Police: Swansea man fatally shoots himself by accident

Swansea police say a man accidentally fatally shot himself Wednesday afternoon when a small semi-automatic pistol he was carrying fell to the ground and fired.

Detectives believe he was carrying the pistol in a small black zipper case in the 1800 block of Dalton Drive when the gun fell out.

“This appears to be a tragic accidental shooting. In honoring the victim, it is a good reminder of firearm’s safety and handling. The thoughts and condolences of the Swansea Police Department are with the family of this man,” said Swansea Police Chief Steve Johnson.

Police say a witness who was working across the street saw the victim leave his home and walk into his garage holding a trash bag. The witness told police the victim bent down and then a loud pop could be heard and the victim fell backward.

Police found the small case with a bullet hole through it next to the trash bag in the garage. Inside the case, police found a spent shell casing with the pistol.

The victim’s identity has not been released by police.

Return to BND.com for more on this developing story.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Police: Swansea man fatally shoots himself by accident."