Man Shoots Through Pants, Woman And Child Hit

MARIETTA, GA — A handgun owner in Marietta will be shopping for some new pants — and is lucky to have avoided a real tragedy, according to police.

Sunday morning, the man accidentally discharged his handgun at a Marietta hotel, shooting a hole in his pants and striking a woman and child with shrapnel, according to the Marietta Police Department.

In a Facebook post, police shared a photo of the man's jeans, which appear to be shredded in a line from the right back pocket all the way down to the knee area. The man told police he was leaving the hotel and had tucked his handgun into the waistband of his pants.

He said the gun began to fall while he was carrying his luggage down a set of stairs and, when he reached to keep it from falling, he accidentally pulled the trigger. The round narrowly missed the man's leg then struck the ground, shooting shrapnel up and hitting a woman and child who were nearby.

"Amazingly," police said, "neither of them had any injuries other than redness and shock ... the shrapnel did not penetrate their skin."

The police department used the incident as a chance to remind gun owners to be more responsible.

"Seriously, people, it is your right to bear arms but if you CHOOSE to do that, seek training first!" the department wrote.

The post also urged gun owners to have all the proper equipment: "You know, like a HOLSTER."

Photo courtesy Marrietta Police Department