The grand opening of the Frisco Gun Club didn't go exactly as planned. The $12 million facility celebrated with a ceremonial ribbon shooting on December 13. Twenty-four hours later, one of its employees accidentally shot himself in the hand.
Frisco police referred all questions about the shooting to the gun club, citing the accidental nature of the incident and the fact that no foul play was suspected.
Brandon Johnson, vice president of marketing for the Frisco Gun Club, detailed the incident in a statement.
On the evening of December 14, 2013, while assisting a member with a jammed firearm, an experienced range officer at the Frisco Gun Club slightly injured his hand when the firearm accidentally discharged while pointing downrange. The range officer was transported to Medical Center of Plano, where he was treated and released for injuries which were not life threatening. No other patrons or staff were injured in this incident.
Kelly Hunter, a spokesperson for the club, says there's a lot of misinformation in the media. "There was a range safety officer down range away from the public trying to clear a jam in a gun, not clean a gun," Hunter says. That's when the Ruger 9-millimeter handgun unexpectedly fired.
Although an ambulance was called to the scene of the shooting, operations continued as usual throughout the weekend. On Monday morning, an employee who answered the phone was unaware a coworker had shot himself. "I didn't know about that. I wasn't here this weekend," the employee said.
A statement on the club's website touts its safety procedures:
Range safety officers and concierge staff are on vigilant to help keep the range safe. If you need or request advice or help with your shooting, concierge staff is here to help. And if you become aware of a safety issue at Frisco Gun Club, please contact a safety officer immediately. The expectation of Frisco Gun Club is that all members and guests handle firearms safely and responsibly.
The Frisco Gun Club is the nation's largest indoor shooting range. In addition to 40 indoor gun ranges, the facility boasts a retail showroom and a VIP cafe featuring executive chef Scott Romano.
The Frisco Gun Club has 40 indoor shooting ranges.
