(Photo Source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP)

We have a “Go Team” moment from North Las Vegas, Nevada. A cool headed teen grabbed a rifle to defend his younger siblings during a daytime home invasion. Hat tip from the SOTG crew.

A Milwaukee man lost his life after a Negligent Discharge. Rather than dismiss the incident or look for a hardware solution, we might consider a software fix. Lastly, Professor Paul has a question for all of the SOTG listening audience. Who will you turn to when the police are all gone?

SOURCES:

From bearingarms.com:

“A 22-year-old Milwaukee man accidentally shot himself in the femoral artery around 11:00 PM Friday evening while attempting to reholster a pistol. Despite the best efforts of the local hospital trauma units, Timothy Phonisay did not survive his wounds.

According to the Medical Examiner’s report, Phonisay was apparently posing with a handgun and when he went to holster it, a round was fired and entered his right groin area.

Phonisay sustained two penetrating wounds to the right thigh. There was no bullet recovered or found on x-ray, according to the Medical Examiner’s report.

Authorities say Phonisay developed respiratory distress during surgery, at which time blood was found in the chest. A right-sided thoracotomy was performed and a significant amount of blood was removed through a chest tube. Doctors were unclear where this blood came from, as no other injuries were identified.

The Medical Examiner’s report states that Phonisay’s cardiac status declined and staff was unable to keep up with the amount of blood loss. Phonisay was pronounced dead just before 1 a.m. His death was ruled an accident.

Another news outlet, the Journal Sentinel, was able to provide a little more detail.

Phonisay was apparently posing with his gun and it discharged when he went to holster it, firing a round into his right groin and striking the femoral artery, according to the medical examiner’s report.

Phonisay purchased the Springfield .45-caliber handgun three months ago and had a concealed carry permit, according to the report.

It’s horrible that young Mr. Phonisay lost his life from such a preventable mistake. Let’s see if we can piece together what went wrong, in hopes of preventing similar tragedies in the future.

On Friday evening, Mr. Phonisay apparently decided that he wanted to talk a selfie with his handgun, described in the Journal Sentinel as a “Springfield .45 -caliber handgun.”

While there is the possibility that Mr. Phonisay was carrying one of Springfield Armory’s 1911-style pistols, it is statistically more likely that he was carrying one of the company’s more popular polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols from the XD, XD(M), or XD(S) lines. The polymer frame Springfield pistols are less expensive, lighter, and more commonly sold than the 1911s, and are unfortunately more frequently associated with negligent discharges.

Mr. Phonisay shot himself while reholstering his pistol, and the fact that he shot his femoral artery on the right side of his groin confirms he was attempting to reholster a gun carried in the appendix position.

We do not know, and are likely to never know, is if Mr. Phonisay still had his finger inside the triggerguard of his pistol and accidentally depressed the trigger with his finger, or if the firearm’s trigger snagged on an article of clothing or the holster itself causing it to fire. What is known is that something depressed the trigger while he was reholstering, causing the gun to discharge.

Mr. Phonisay had only owned this hand gun for three months. It is probable that he did not have much training beyond that mandated to obtain a concealed carry permit in Wisconsin, and he almost certainly had no formal instruction in how to use an appendix carry holster.

Use of a proper appendix carry holster and proper technique ensures that you will not point the firearm at your femoral artery. Unfortunately, it is obvious that Mr. Phonisay didn’t follow correct technique, and the gun pointed towards his body, ensuring this negligent discharge would become a fatal one.

AIWB is a wonderful carry position. It is very comfortable and secure, and fast to draw when needed. Like every carry technique, however, it requires some training and practice to do safely.

Our sincere condolences go out to Mr. Phonisay’s family and friends.“

From fox6now.com:

“New charges were filed against 20-year-old Najee Harmon on Thursday morning, June 25th in connection with the shooting of a Wauwatosa detective. The charges in the case include three counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Harmon is accused of shooting and wounding Wauwatosa Detective Jeffrey Griffin last Friday morning, June 19th during an incident near 60th and Good Hope in Milwaukee.

In court on Thursday, June 25th, as these new charges were filed against him, a court commissioner set bail at $500,000.

“It’s a high cash bail but I think it’s appropriate given the information in front of me,” Katharine Kucharski, court commissioner said.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Harmon, officers, including Detective Griffin were investigating a recent burglary that occurred in Wauwatosa. “The officers observed one of the reported stolen vehicles…parked and unoccupied. As the officers observed the vehicle, a male identified as (Harmon) exited a nearby apartment building and entered the driver’s seat of the vehicle.” The complaint indicates the officers approached the vehicle “effectively blocking it from moving, drew their weapons and ordered the defendant to stop and surrender.”

The complaint indicates Harmon “failed to comply with the officers’ repeated commands and began running from the scene. As he did so, he drew a black handgun and pointed it toward the officers. The defendant fired several shots toward the officers.” The gunfire struck Detective Griffin. The injuries resulted in “significant internal injuries.”

Detective Griffin was taken to Froedtert Hospital, where he had to have surgery. He was listed in serious but stable condition.

Griffin is 51, and a 25-year veteran with the Wauwatosa Police Department.

Numerous casings were recovered from the scene. Shots were fired by police service weapons and from a separate 9mm firearm.

The complaint indicates a witness saw the shooting, and a black firearm in Harmon’s hand.

“The witness does not identify the defendant according to the criminal complaint. None of the officers do either. Therefore, I do not think it meets the standard for probable cause,” Lisa Procaccio, Harmon’s attorney said.

“Within the four corners of this complaint and as alleged, it indicates that this defendant was identified by officers and by the citizen,” Kucharski said.

Following the officer-involved shooting near 60th and Good Hope — a massive manhunt began for the suspect responsible. We did not know his identity initially. First, multiple law enforcement officials from multiple agencies took part in a search of the area surrounding 60th and Good Hope.

On Friday evening, law enforcement officials were on scene near 12th and Keefe, where they were focused on a home. Eventually, gas was deployed, and tactical officers entered the home — believing Harmon may have been inside. He was not.

Later Friday, police released a photograph of Najee Harmon, and his name. He was the most wanted man in Milwaukee as the manhunt entered a second day.

“Officers from the Milwaukee Police Department Fugitive Apprehension Unit searched the home. A Milwaukee K9 found Harmon hiding in the basement,” Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said.

He was arrested without incident.

In 2011, Harmon was convicted of disorderly conduct and felony substantial battery after taking part in an attack that left a teenage boy unconscious.

In 2012, Harmon pleaded guilty to and was convicted of felony theft of movable property for videotaping a theft and then grabbing a pair of the victim’s headphones.

Armelia Blunt – victim in June 16th armed robbery for which Najee Harmon is charged
On Monday, June 22nd, Harmon and another man were charged in connection with a June 16th armed robbery. It happened in the 5500 block of W. Fond du Lac Avenue in Milwaukee. A criminal complaint indicates Harmon entered a woman’s vehicle — parked in the parking lot, and put a gun to her neck — demanding the car keys and threatening to shoot her.

The woman told police when she told Harmon she didn’t have the keys, he said: “I want all the money or I’m going to shoot you.”

The complaint indicates she gave Harmon her wallet and he then exited her vehicle — jumping into a waiting vehicle — which fled the scene, according to the complaint.

Bail was set at $20,000 cash in the armed robbery case.

On Tuesday, June 23rd, Harmon was in municipal court in Milwaukee County for two ordinance violations.

Court documents say in August 2014, Harmon slammed his girlfriend onto the floor, choked her and kneed her in the stomach after she tried to break up with him.

Harmon also has a possession of marijuana offense from September 2011.

The criminal complaint related to the shooting of the Wauwatosa detective says because Harmon was previously convicted of substantial battery — and he was prohibited from possessing a firearm — Harmon now qualifies for “the habitual criminality penalty enhancer.”

Harmon will be in court on July 2nd for his preliminary hearing in connection with this most recent case, and the armed robbery charge.“

From www.breitbart.com:

“On August 19, a 14-year-old boy in North Las Vegas responded to alleged home invaders the way his parents taught him: he herded his younger siblings into an upstairs closet, grabbed a rifle and a cell phone to call 911, then climbed into the closet with them.

The invasion ended when the home invaders found the children and were startled to be looking down the barrel of a gun.

According to KSNV News3LV, the two home invasion suspects knocked, but 14-year-old Andrew Mason did not answer–just as his parents had instructed him. Instead, he listened, and the sounds convinced him that the knocking was actually the sound of someone breaking in.

He sent his younger twin siblings into the closet, retrieved a rifle and a phone, and joined them. As the children huddled in the closet, the alleged home invaders took various items out of the house and loaded them into their car. Eventually, they opened the closet door, then fled upon seeing the rifle in Andrew’s hands.

Andrew’s father praised him for his quick actions and bravery and expressed outrage that someone would try to break into the home and take the things they worked so hard to accumulate. Kieawa Mason said, “It truly angers you. My wife and I work very hard. We don’t bother anyone, and for someone to come violate our family [and] our household, it really is upsetting.“

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Professor Paul Markel

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Paul G. Markel has worn many hats during his lifetime. He has been a U.S. Marine, Police Officer, Professional Bodyguard, and Small Arms and Tactics Instructor. Mr. Markel has been writing professionally for law enforcement and firearms periodicals for nearly twenty years with hundreds and hundreds of articles in print. Paul is a regular guest on nationally syndicated radio talk shows and subject matter expert in firearms training and use of force. Mr. Markel has been teaching safe and effective firearms handling to students young and old for decades and has worked actively with the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Paul holds numerous instructor certifications in multiple disciplines and a Bachelor’s degree in conflict resolution; nonetheless, he is and will remain a dedicated Student of the Gun.

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