Sheriff’s office: Westminster man issued summons after shooting himself in thigh

DENVER (KDVR) — The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said a man was issued a summons after he “negligently discharged a pistol he was handling” and shot his own leg.

Around 2 p.m. Sunday, dispatchers received a 911 text reporting that a man had shot himself near Bunce School Rd. in Boulder County.

Later, officials learned that a 44-year-old man from Westminster shot a pistol he was holding and struck himself in the upper thigh area.

He was camping with family members who used a belt as a makeshift tourniquet to stop the heavy bleeding, the sheriff’s office said.

The family got the man in a car started driving and were met by crews with the Allenspark Fire Protection District who were looking for them on Highway 7 (South St. Vrain Rd.) west of Lyons.

The family transported the victim by car from the campsite and were met by Allenspark Fire personnel and Lyons Fire personnel looking for them on Hwy 7/South St. Vrain west of Lyons.

The man was then taken to a nearby hospital by the Lyons Fire Department, and he is in stable condition.

As the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office was investigating, it was determined that alcohol played a role in the negligent discharge, BCSO said the man was issued a summons.