TMP Reports
Posted: Monday, March 2, 2009 3:24 pm

Watching Cher on television distracted a husband cleaning a handgun, causing him to accidentally shoot his wife in the wrist Sunday afternoon, a Murfreesboro Police officer said.

Husband Stephen Summers of Bolden Drive was showing wife, Evy Elaine, how to clean and disassemble a Glock firearm, Officer Palmer Gibbs reported. They were distracted while watching Cher.

“Mr. Summers cocked the Glock and it went off and struck Mrs. Summers,” Gibbs reported.

She was treated at Middle Tennessee Medical Center. Detective Paul Mongold is investigating.

Police spokesman Kyle Evans said it’s especially advised when cleaning a gun to make sure the firearm is unloaded and treated as loaded until confirmed otherwise. Never point a gun loaded or unloaded at anybody or anything.

“We have seen cases where people have accidentally shot televisions, caused damage to their house and in this case another human being,” Evans said.

In a close quarter area such as the city limits of Murfreesboro, it’s especially important to exercise gun safety because of the close proximity of other houses, he added.