GRAHAM COUNTY — Graham County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a pair of incidents involving weapons over the last two weeks.
The first occurred Nov. 1, when a man entered the hospital after being shot in the face.
The man said he and friend were quail hunting, when a quail flew up between them and his friend fired his shotgun, not knowing the location of the victim.
The man was flown to Tucson for surgery to remove the pellets.
The second incident occurred Nov. 8 in the area of Bonita Klondyke Road and Taylor Pass Road, at the 76 Ranch. The incident was reported by Sheriff PJ Allred, who said the victim works for Allred’s brother-in-law.
According to witnesses, the victim was checking a fence with another man, identified as Ceasar, when a .357 handgun fell, hitting the floor of the side-by-side they were riding in. The gun discharged, striking the victim in the right forearm and chest.
The victim was transported to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center before being flown to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson for surgery.
Investigating the incident, the deputy found the weapon, which was in a holster in the bed of the side-by-side. Both the holster and hand grip of the firearm were covered in blood.
The deputy also observed that there appeared to be two spent cartridges in the cylinder, not one.
The weapon and other items from the scene were taken as evidence, and the deputy requested the hospital make the bullets available as well.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
