A California pastor was shot earlier this month when his gun instructor switched his rubber training gun with his real handgun during a demonstration and shot the pastor in the waist, The Modesto Bee reported Monday.
The firearm accidentally discharged, a spokeswoman for the Modesto Police Department told the publication. The pastor is now going through physical therapy.
Tom Smith, a pastor at The House Modesto, attended a training session taught by Phillip Rushing on Dec. 5 at the Personal Protection Institute. Rushing spent the course with his training gun on his holster, but switched out the fake weapon for his real one toward the end of the class.
At one point a student asked the instructor to show the class how to defend against a knife attack. While Rushing was demonstrating, he drew his real gun and it discharged, according to the report.
Police have not charged Rushing but the case still could be forwarded to the district attorney’s office, the police spokeswoman told the publication.
