A Metropolitan Museum security guard was a little careless while cleaning his gun. He neglected to notice it was still loaded. Hit the jump for the full story.
Daily Mail – A security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has accidentally shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun.
The guard, who is in his 50s, let off his service weapon in a basement room that is not accessible to the public, a Met spokesman said.
Harold Holzer told DNAinfo that the unidentified man, who has worked at the New York City museum for 24 years, is expected ‘to be fine’.
After the shot went off at around 3 p.m., he was taken to the New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment.
Met officials explained that a limited group of guards carry guns while on duty but are not allowed to leave with them so clean them at the museum.
Holzer added that the world-famous art collection is guarded at all hours, but did not reveal where those with guns are located.
‘It has been well-protected by these uniformed guards for over 100 years,†he told the New York Post.
They’re there to protect the public and the art. It’s worked out well so far. This was a unique event, clearly a freak accident.’
He added he was unsure of the exact placement or depth of the gunshot wound.
Visitors at the museum, which hosts five million people a year, said they had not heard the shot.
Maintenance worker Kathy told DNAinfo: ‘It was an accident and accidents happen. He definitely didn’t want to hurt himself.’
