BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

CANEY — A Caney man sustained a gunshot wound to the back and abdomen last Friday night, Feb. 12, in a set of events that local police are classifying as an accidental shooting.

Ron Wade of the Caney Police Department said Cody Standridge, age 22, of 210 N. Fawn was accidentally shot with a World War II-era German pistol that was held by Ethan Elsheimer, age 18, who is a friend of Standridge’s. Wade said Elsheimer and Standridge were examining the gun and were under the belief that it was unloaded. However, they were unaware that one round remained lodged in the gun chamber. Standridge had just stood up when Elsheimer accidentally pulled the trigger, causing the bullet to enter Standridge’s lower back and exit at the top of his abdomen. The bullet, which Wade described as a machine gun round, was lodged in the front door of the home.

Wade said local police were first called to the scene to investigate a drive-by shooting. However, after Standridge had been taken to an area hospital for treatment of his medical wound, police further investigated the situation, during which time witnesses confessed that it was an accidental shooting.

Wade said the matter is being forwarded to the Montgomery County Attorney to determine if criminal charges should be filed.

Caney police chief Rick Pell said Standridge was lucky to have survived the gunshot wound.

“From what the doctors told us, the gunshot wound was a fraction of an inch from causing serious problems,” he said. “Cody is lucky to be alive.”