Stamford man shoots himself while looking for phantom burglar

A Stamford man has been charged after police say he accidentally discharged his gun, sending a bullet into an adjacent apartment. A Stamford man has been charged after police say he accidentally discharged his gun, sending a bullet into an adjacent apartment. Photo: File Photo Photo: File Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Stamford man shoots himself while looking for phantom burglar 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD — A city man has been charged with reckless endangerment after shooting his hand and sending a bullet into an adjacent apartment early Tuesday morning, police said.

Sgt. Robert Shawinsky said police were dispatched at 4:30 a.m. to an apartment building on Hoyt Street near Stamford Police Headquarters for a report of a man who shot himself.

When police arrived, they found blood in the apartment. The gunshot victim, Steven Belske, told police he thought he heard a noise inside his apartment and got up to investigate.

As he was walking out of his bedroom loading his Rock Island Armory, 1911 .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, the gun accidentally fired, striking him in his left index and middle finger, he told police.

Belske was taken to Stamford Hospital with what police said appeared to be superficial wounds. Shawinsky said there was no mention in the report of anyone else in the apartment.

Police found the firearm on the floor of the bedroom and determined that a slug from the pistol went through a wall and into the adjacent apartment. Officers found the bullet on the floor inside a hallway closet and no one else was reported injured in the incident, Shawinsky said.

Belske, 31, was also charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and signed a written promise to appear in court. His gun was taken by police, Capt. Richard Conklin said.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com