A man accidentally shot himself in the leg during a Friday night showing of “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” in the central-Kansas city of Salina.
Cody Deneault, 24, was adjusting the handgun in his pants pocket during the film when it went off, according to the Salina Post on Monday.
Deneault was taken to the hospital with a non-fatal wound. No other injuries were reported.
Tim Coleman, a father who took his 12-year-old daughter and her friend to the movie, told the Salina Journal on Sunday he wasn’t worried about an “active shooter” because he only heard one shot.
Coleman, a Army veteran, told the newspaper that his military training kicked in and he helped by making a tourniquet with Deneault’s belt. While they waited for paramedics, Deneault told him that he had a concealed carry permit.
According to one couple in the theater, it happened about 45 minutes into the movie. Heather Myers told KWCH she thought the popping sound was a bag of candy being opened.
“This guy started shouting ‘Oh my God, I just shot myself! I just got my concealed and carry,’ and then everybody jumped up and that’s when we heard call 9-11,” Myers said.
A new state law allows gun owners to carry concealed weapons without any training or a permit. It went into effect in July.
“I believe in protecting yourself, but it is scary knowing they’re in public places,” Myers told KWCH. “I feel absolutely terrible for the gentleman that shot himself, but the first thing I thought of was thank God he didn’t shoot anybody else.”
