Inset: John Eady (Valdosta Police Department). Background: The Walmart in Georgia where a mother was allegedly shot in both ankles by John Eady (Google Maps).
A Georgia mother shopping at Walmart with her young children suffered shrapnel injuries to both ankles after a man accidentally fired a handgun from the pocket of his basketball-style shorts, authorities said.
Police in Valdosta say 21-year-old John Eady was inside the store on June 9 when the weapon he was carrying went off unintentionally as he reached for his cellphone.
According to the Valdosta Police Department, Eady had the firearm tucked into the front pocket of his shorts without a holster, and his cellphone was in that same pocket.
Investigators said that when Eady reached into the pocket to grab his phone, the gun discharged into the floor. Bullet fragments and pieces of tile then struck a 34-year-old woman in the ankles.
In an initial update, Valdosta police said one shopper suffered a gunshot-related injury to her lower leg.
The woman was treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
“Officers determined that Eady was carrying the firearm in a manner that was a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would have exercised in a similar situation,” the police department says.
“We are very thankful that no one received more severe injuries, as the victim was shopping with her small children,” adds VPD Chief Leslie Manahan in a statement. “This serves as a reminder that carrying a firearm is a significant responsibility. Firearms should be carried in a secure holster or in another secure manner to prevent unintentional contact with the trigger, reducing the risk of an unintended discharge.”
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Eady on June 10. He turned himself in and was charged with one misdemeanor count of reckless conduct.
Eady was being held at the Lowndes County Jail.
