Michael Izzo

@MIzzoDR

PARSIPPANY – Two coin show vendors suffered minor injuries after one accidently discharged a gun and struck both of them, police said.

At about 1:01 p.m. May 1, Parsippany Police and Car 65 Ambulance personnel responded to the Parsippany Police Athletic League building on Baldwin Road for a report of a possible accidental discharge of a firearm, Officer Remo D’Alessandro said.

Upon arrival, officers met with the man accused of discharging the weapon - William Wetzler, 58, of Hasbrouck Heights - who was a vendor at the coin show taking place in the building, D’Alessandro said.

Wetzler was in possession of a silver Walther PPK, a 9MM handgun, which he allegedly accidentally discharged while it was in his pocket, D’Alessandro said.

The discharged round struck the ground, ricocheted, and struck the victim, a 67-year-old Toms River man who was also a vendor at the show, D’Alessandro said.

Both Wetzler and the 67-year-old man suffered non-life threatening minor injuries and did not need medical attention, D’Alessandro said.

Wetzler was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun and negligently discharging a firearm in a public location.

He was released pending a court appearance.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com