Man Shoots Own Penis With Girlfriend's Gun

Police urge holster use to avoid penis shots.

Laurie Merrill, The Arizona Republic

Photo of penis before shooting. (ho, hum... no big loss)



CHANDLER, Ariz. — As Joshua Seto, 27, and his fiance, Cara Christopher, walked to a local grocery store last week for refreshments, he tried securing her pink handgun in the front waistband of his pants. Bad idea.

The gun fired, striking Seto's penis and continuing through his left thigh. The bleeding started immediately and was heavy, according to police dispatch recordings released Sunday.

"He is still conscious, there is just a lot of blood," his girlfriend, Christopher, 26, told 911 operators and dispatchers when the accidental shooting occurred Tuesday.

One operator told Christopher to apply direct pressure to the wound with a dry towel or T-shirt, but to avoid looking at the wound.

"I did look at it," Christopher said. "It's pretty bad." probably prompting her to think about getting a new boyfriend.

When the emergency call first went through, Chrisopher was asked if they needed paramedics, she said yes.

"He's still coherent and everything but he's bleeding quite a lot," she said. He probably was cursing quite a lot, too.

In the wake of the accident, police are warning armed residents to use holsters, not waistbands.

The movies and TV shows, like Sons of Anarchy, that show tough guys with guns shoved into their jeans are not realistic, Chandler Police Detective Seth Tyler said Sunday.

The cops and robbers of the silver screen most likely use rubber weapons, which weigh far less than the real things, Tyler said. They also won't blow your dick off.

"Whenever you handle a firearm, whether you are a novice or experienced, always treat firearms as though they are loaded," said Tyler, a spokesman for the department. "If you are going to carry a handgun on your person, use a holster, not your waistband."

Meanwhile, it is not clear if Seto has been released from the hospital or suffered any permanent damage, Tyler said.

"He is recovering," Tyler said. But Christopher was worried about penile implants. It's not like he just lost an arm or a leg.

He may possibly face charges, too, Tyler said Sunday.

Tyler was unsure of the type of gun, or whether it had a safety that was off. What was clear is that the shooter's brain safety switch was in the off position.