LUDLOW -- Police are seeking a criminal complaint against a 62-year-old man who accidentally shot himself in the hand and another man in both thighs Friday morning with a .45 caliber handgun.

The second victim, a 52-year-old Feeding Hills man, suffered what police described as a life-threatening injury from a high-caliber weapon at close range.

"There was a lot of blood," said Sgt. Daniel Valadas. "You are talking about a pistol (a Smith & Wesson .45 caliber 1911) with a considerable amount of stopping power."

The shooting occurred shortly before 11 a.m. and both men were taken by Ludlow Fire Department paramedics taken Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Valadas declined to name the second victim or give the address where the shooting occurred.

The gun owner, Kenneth C. Leits, will be summoned to Palmer District Court to answer to a charge of discharging a firearm within 100 feet of a dwelling.

Police have suspended the Leits' license to carry and have administratively seized all of his weapons - 11 in all - and his ammunition, Valadas said.

The shooting occurred as Leits was showing the handgun to the Feeding Hills man, described by Valadas as a neighbor's friend.

"At some point, without emptying his magazine, it looks like he attempted to pull back the upper receiver and subsequently put a round in the chamber," Valadas said. "For an unknown reason he decided to pull the trigger. These firearms don't go off unless you pull the trigger."

The discharged round went through Leits' left hand, went through the second victim's right thigh and became lodged in his left thigh, Valadas said.

The shooting occurred in the basement of the home. Leits went upstairs to call 911 and the second victim was still in the basement when emergency personnel arrived.

The Ludlow Fire Department sent four paramedics to the scene due to the potential severity of the injuries, Valadas said.

Leits' license to carry was suspended by Lt. Michael Brennan, who serves as the firearms licensing designee for Police Chief Paul Madera.

Once the case is disposed of, Leits will have the ability to apply for the reinstatement of his license to carry and the return of his firearms, Valadas said.

In Massachusetts, those who have their license to carry suspended have the ability to transfer their firearms to another license-holder, Valadas said.