The Associated Press is reporting that the recruiter who shot himself Friday at a military recruiting office in Gainesville was discussing the Tennessee shootings with a recruit at the time.
The new information was part of a national story detailing how some governors are beefing up protection for National Guard recruiters and National Guardsmen in their states, and Defense Secretary Ash Carter is asking the military services to determine if additional steps can be taken to ensure people are safe at military installations.
Ashton's comments came, the AP reported, as Navy officials confirmed the recruiter in the Gainesville incident accidentally shot himself in the leg with his personal .45-caliber pistol while discussing the Tennessee shootings with one of his recruits. Officials said he showed the sailor the unloaded gun, then reloaded it and inadvertently discharged it as he was putting it back in his holster.
Signs posted on the office door clearly state that "weapons are prohibited."
(Link to earlier AccessWDUN story. http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/7/323769/police-say-no-cause-for-alarm-in-accidental-self-inflicted-shooting-at-gainesville-recruiting-center )
(Link to complete AP story. http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/7/323941 )