Employee accidentally shoots two customers while mishandling gun at Detroit eatery

In Detroit, Michigan, an accidental shooting incident occurred at Al's Fresh Fish & Chicken located on Russell Street. The shooting took place on a Wednesday afternoon around 1 p.m. when a 56-year-old store employee discovered a firearm on the restaurant floor. While attempting to manipulate the found weapon, the employee unintentionally caused the gun to fire, resulting in injuries to himself and two innocent customers present at the establishment. The police reported that a bullet struck the employee's hand and then traveled through a doorway, hitting two patrons aged 33 and 46, each sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. The first customer was wounded in the left forearm, while the second suffered a graze on the wrist. Following the incident, one of the injured individuals was taken to a hospital for treatment, while the other two were treated on site by medical personnel. Fortunately, all injuries were deemed non-life-threatening. This mishap raised significant concern regarding the handling of firearms, prompting Detroit Police officials to address the community about the dangers associated with gun misuse. First Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald described the event as one of the most bizarre accidents he has witnessed. Fitzgerald emphasized the critical lesson learned from the incident, urging individuals to refrain from handling firearms unless they are knowledgeable about their operation and safety. He stated, "the bottom line is if you don't know how to handle a weapon, don't handle a weapon.” This incident serves as a reminder for the community about the importance of firearm safety and the ramifications of mishandling weapons, particularly in public areas where bystanders could be at risk. An ongoing investigation is being conducted regarding the circumstances surrounding how the employee discovered the firearm and the subsequent actions leading to the shooting. The findings from the investigation will be forwarded to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for further review. This review process may lead to appropriate legal actions against the individual involved or a reassessment of safety practices in local establishments. Community response has included calls for increased awareness and preventive measures to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.