Pinellas Deputies investigating an accidental shooting at a gun store that seriously injured a 19-year-old woman in unincorporated Seminole.
In an agency press release, detectives say that at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10, 2017, they were called to Dara’s Nail Salon and Day Spa located at 9049 Starkey Road for a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
Paramedics from the City of Seminole Fire Rescue were already on scene rendering aide to the victim, 19 year-old Yaminah Gilbert of Largo. Gilbert suffered from a gunshot wound to her back and was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg as a trauma alert for non-life threatening injuries.
Detectives say that 43-year-old Mark Smith, an employee at the neighboring business, R&R Firearms, located at 9051 Starkey Road, was unloading a customer’s .45 caliber handgun inside the gun shop. Smith informed detectives that he was clearing the loaded firearm when he pulled the slide back and emptied the chambered round from inside the firearm. When Smith sent the slide forward on the handgun, there was a magazine with ammunition still inside the handgun and the gun accidentally discharged.
The projectile from the handgun traveled southbound, through the adjoining wall, and into Dara’s Nail Salon and Day Spa, located at 9040 Starkey Road.
Detectives say that Gilbert was seated in a salon chair getting a pedicure at the nail salon when she felt the pain from the projectile striking her in the back. At the time, Gilbert was unaware of what happened until Smith came forward and reported the accidental discharge.
Gilbert was released from the hospital late on Friday, February, 10, 2017.
No arrests have been made in this case.
The investigation continues.
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