North Carolina Man Injured in Accidental Shooting Near Mohican State Forest
LOUDONVILLE, OH — A North Carolina man was transported to Ohio-Health Mansfield Hospital Emergency Department Monday afternoon after accidentally shooting himself in the leg while attempting to unload a firearm inside a vehicle near Mohican State Forest.
The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office received the 911 call at approximately 3:34 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, reporting a man with a gunshot wound at 915 State Route 97, just outside Loudonville near Perrysville.
An Ashland County Sheriff’s Office command log identifies the injured man as 31-year-old Jose Morales of Salisbury, North Carolina.
Ashland County Sheriff Kurt J. Schneider said Morales was working in the area when the incident occurred.
“After a brief conversation with the gentleman in the car, he was trying to unload his firearm in the car and consequently shot himself accidentally in the leg,” Schneider said.
According to the command log, Loudonville Police responded to the scene and applied a tourniquet before medical personnel were cleared to enter. Morales was transported by Loudonville EMS to Mansfield General Hospital for treatment.
Schneider said Morales was expected to be OK.
The Sheriff’s Office report lists a white 2014 Chevrolet Silverado at the scene. The command log also references a Sig Sauer firearm and an ATV located in the bed of the truck.
Deputies arrived at approximately 3:52 p.m. The report lists Sheriff Schneider, Detective Jump, and deputies Curtis Hall and Kyle Pidgeon among the responding officers. The scene was cleared shortly before 4:50 p.m.
The incident remained under investigation as deputies conducted additional interviews. However, Schneider said preliminary findings indicated the shooting was accidental.
“Nothing leads me to believe there’s any foul play or anything other than an accidental discharge of a firearm,” Schneider said.
The sheriff also said drugs and alcohol were not suspected in connection with the incident.
Note: ID was listed as Chicago, Illinois
