2 People Hurt In Accidental Shooting At Kansas Graduation Ceremony

Sunday, May 15th 2016, 9:27 pm

By: News On 6

Two people were hurt in an accidental shooting at Augusta High School's graduation ceremony in southern Kansas, CBS affiliate KWCH reported.

Augusta Police Chief Tyler Brewer said Sunday afternoon that the shooting was accidental and described it as a "knucklehead situation."

The shooting happened as people were filing into the football stadium for the graduation.

A man's concealed gun accidentally discharged when he was sitting in the bleachers of Hillier Stadium, where the outdoor commencement was held.

Police said a bullet from the gun hit the man, then, the bullet or shrapnel ricocheted about 50 feet and hit a woman who was standing under the press box, KWCH reported.

Police told KWCH the gun owner has a permit, and was carrying a small, semi-automatic gun in his sock. The gun in his sock was uncomfortable and he was apparently adjusting it when it went off.

The man was reported to have accidentally shot himself in the right foot and was able to drive himself to a hospital. The woman was taken to Wesley Medical Center in serious condition after suffering a wound to the calf, KWCH reported.

One witness, who knows the woman, said he heard the shot a little before the commencement ceremony began.

He said he looked down at the woman's ankle or calf muscle and noticed the wound, which was "bleeding like crazy."

He told KWCH he ran over to the concession stand and grabbed a lot of paper towels to try and stop the bleeding. The woman's family said she is going to be okay.

Augusta police said the man whose gun discharged should not have had a gun on school grounds. Even outside, it is illegal to have a gun on school property.

Brewer says he plans to present the case to prosecutors.

Brewer says the Augusta High School commencement continued after the shooting, with most people unaware of what happened.