Fair Lawn man accidentally shot himself and a friend, police say

John Connolly | NorthJersey

Show Caption Hide Caption Tips for gun safety Tips for practicing gun safety at all times whether at home, hunting or at the range.

A Fair Lawn man showing off his handgun accidentally shot himself and his friend Saturday night in a home on Rosewood Street, police said.

The 40-year-old gun owner was showing his .380-caliber Beretta semiautomatic handgun to a 49-year-old Paterson man when "the gun discharged one round, striking the gun owner in his left hand and his friend in the right hip," Fair Lawn police Sgt. Brian Metzler said in a statement.

A female friend transported both men to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, where they received treatment, Metzler said.

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When the men arrived at the hospital shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, an off-duty Paterson police officer, working security, alerted Fair Lawn police about the incident, authorities said.

Fair Lawn Detectives Mark Wyka, Paul Donohue and Anthony Lugo investigated and the handgun was recovered at the scene, Metzler said.

Police did not release the identities of those involved in the shooting and did not say whether the gun owner was licensed to have the weapon.

As of Sunday, Fair Lawn police were still investigating.

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