Steve in PA
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2 charged in shooting accident
One man was injured in the Feb. 28 handgun incident at a Sugarloaf Township restaurant.
By RON LIEBACK [email protected]
SUGARLOAF TWP. – Sitting in a booth at a local pizzeria Feb. 28, Richard E. Grimm heard his friend make a comment about Russian roulette.
Then, Grimm said, Nicholas M. Landis raised a newly bought pistol to his head and pulled the trigger, shooting himself in the face.
The bullet grazed his left cheek and nose, and the .38-caliber Smith & Wesson fell to the ground at Valley Pizza on state Route 93.
On Wednesday, police charged both men in connection with what they call a “foolish, accidental shooting.â€
According to court papers:
When officer Tom Brown arrived at the pizza shop at 7:30 p.m., Landis, 19, of Main Street, Conyngham, was lying in a booth, holding a towel on his face and neck area.
Brown observed an open box of ammo and four rounds on the table by Landis. He also said there was a bullet hole in the ceiling above Landis.
After Landis was taken to the hospital, police interviewed Grimm. He told police he had purchased the gun in his name for Landis.
Grimm, 21, of Lakeview Trail, then sold the gun to Landis for $200, police said. Grimm also told police he knew Landis was not licensed to carry a weapon.
Grimm said that while the two men were sitting in the restaurant, Landis pulled the gun from his pants and put a box of ammo on the table. Landis spun the box of ammo on the table and when it pointed to himself, he discharged the weapon, shooting himself.
Landis was charged with criminal solicitation, unlicensed firearms and recklessly endangering another person. Grimm was charged with criminal conspiracy and sale of a firearm to an unlicensed person.
Both men were arraigned before District Justice Daniel O’Donnell and taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail each.
A hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. March 16 before O’Donnell.
One man was injured in the Feb. 28 handgun incident at a Sugarloaf Township restaurant.
By RON LIEBACK [email protected]
SUGARLOAF TWP. – Sitting in a booth at a local pizzeria Feb. 28, Richard E. Grimm heard his friend make a comment about Russian roulette.
Then, Grimm said, Nicholas M. Landis raised a newly bought pistol to his head and pulled the trigger, shooting himself in the face.
The bullet grazed his left cheek and nose, and the .38-caliber Smith & Wesson fell to the ground at Valley Pizza on state Route 93.
On Wednesday, police charged both men in connection with what they call a “foolish, accidental shooting.â€
According to court papers:
When officer Tom Brown arrived at the pizza shop at 7:30 p.m., Landis, 19, of Main Street, Conyngham, was lying in a booth, holding a towel on his face and neck area.
Brown observed an open box of ammo and four rounds on the table by Landis. He also said there was a bullet hole in the ceiling above Landis.
After Landis was taken to the hospital, police interviewed Grimm. He told police he had purchased the gun in his name for Landis.
Grimm, 21, of Lakeview Trail, then sold the gun to Landis for $200, police said. Grimm also told police he knew Landis was not licensed to carry a weapon.
Grimm said that while the two men were sitting in the restaurant, Landis pulled the gun from his pants and put a box of ammo on the table. Landis spun the box of ammo on the table and when it pointed to himself, he discharged the weapon, shooting himself.
Landis was charged with criminal solicitation, unlicensed firearms and recklessly endangering another person. Grimm was charged with criminal conspiracy and sale of a firearm to an unlicensed person.
Both men were arraigned before District Justice Daniel O’Donnell and taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail each.
A hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. March 16 before O’Donnell.
