CU-Denver accidental shooting: Now ex-staffer trying to unjam gun when it fired

By Sam Levin Thu., Nov. 15 2012 at 11:21 AM

Loeb, 49, suffered a minor laceration on her right hand index finger. The handgun had no warrants on it.

The bullet accidentally fired from the gun appears to have bounced off a nearby filing cabinet, then ricocheting again from the carpet to the leg of Loeb's coworker, Lilibeth D. Lopez-Gonzales, a patient coordinator for the School of Dental Medicine. Lopez-Gonzales, who confirmed the nature of the accident to police, said another coworker "was excited to see Loeb's gun. In fact, they were thinking about getting one for themselves," the report says.

Lopez-Gonzales didn't realize right away what happened, but subsequently "noticed that her leg was bleeding a little bit."

She suffered a minor laceration on the back of her right leg calf area, smaller than the size of a dime, according to the report.

An officer took Loeb aside "and was assisting her because she seemed to be very stressed out and upset with herself about the incident."

The other witness, the report says, stated that she was "happy to see the handgun and admired how small it was. She further added that Loeb took the handgun apart to make it safer for them, and then she was trying to put it back together."

Misdemeanor charges have been filed against Loeb -- one count each of Prohibited Use of Weapons and Unlawful Conduct on Public Property, issued through a summons.

The report says that Loeb repeatedly made statements that "it was an accident," "it's my fault" and "I'm so sorry."

A University spokesman says that Loeb is no longer employed by the University, as of yesterday, but that because it is a confidential personnel matter, no further details can be given.

Here are some excerpts from the report and our original coverage below:

Continue for our original coverage of the accidental shooting.

Tags:

Anschutz Medical Campus, CU, Dan Meyers, gun control, Students for Concealed Carry, University of Colorado

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COEngineer

Since I am a gun owner, 2nd Amendment supporter, etc, I was really worried about the bad publicity from this, but when I read the details I thought, "Meh, not so bad." She probably wasn't as competent with the gun as she could have been, but she was obviously being smart by pointing it in a safe direction. Each of them had insignificant injuries from an accidental discharge. If anything, this story is a good example to share with new shooters. She also took responsibility for her actions and was obviously and appropriately dismayed at the results.

michael.roberts moderator editortopcommenter

@COEngineer Interesting post, COEngineer -- one we're going to make an upcoming Comment of the Day. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Juan_Leg topcommenter

Didn't a cop 'accidentally' shoot & KILL another cop recently ? Lakewood, if I'm not mistaking . Were there charges files in that KILLING ?

No ................

DonkeyHotay topcommenter

Charges have been filed against a woman who accidentally shot a co-worker Friday on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus.

Mary Loeb, 49, a business manager in the School of Dental Medicine, faces charges of prohibited use of weapons and unlawful conduct on public property related to the firing of a .22 magnum revolver as the showed to the gun to Lilibeth Lopez-Gonzales, 33.

Monkey called it !!

ryank

F---ing idiot. These low IQ people ruin basic rights for everyone.

BackOffImStarving topcommenter

@ryank And there aren't IQ requirements for buying, possessing, OR applying for a CCW permit. Scary.

Monkey

1 Like

She was trying to unjam the gun after re-assembling it? She most likely assebmbled the gun, slid a bullet in the chamber without realizing it, and pulled the trigger, like an idiot.

I wonder if this stupid cop lost his job too, probably not. But it is fun to watch a cop shoot himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw-jTCNZSmY

DonkeyHotay topcommenter

@Monkey -- Way to make an impression on the kids !!

Notice how some of the smarter children admonish this tool to put the gun away after he demonstrates his idiocy.

boco

1 Like

"Do you have reason to believe that people...are suddenly going to become wildly irresponsible as soon as they walk on campus?"

Bro.

michael.roberts moderator editortopcommenter

@boco One word speaks volumes. Funny post, boco. Thanks.

Monkey

2 Like

The cops will charge this person for sure. It's illegal to discharge a weapon inside a building without gaining consent from the owner, or defending yourself. The gun didn't accidentally go off by itself, a staff member discharged the gun accidentally, and in the City of Boulder, like most cities around here, that's illegal.