Metropolitan Museum Guard Shoots Himself in Leg
A Metropolitan Museum of Art guard accidentally shot himself in the leg this afternoon while cleaning his gun in an employee locker room, a spokesman for the Manhattan museum said.
“The public was never in any danger,” spokesman Harold Holzer said in a telephone interview. “We don’t have further details, whether it was flesh or bone.”
The name of the guard, who’s been on staff for 24 years, was not released. Holzer said a minority of the security staff carry weapons. He declined to say where they’re assigned.
“The Met has always had a small force of armed guards,” Holzer said, adding that it was the first time a gun was discharged in the 20 years he’s worked at the museum.
The man is in stable condition at New York- Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, said Brian Sessa, a detective with the New York City Police Department.
To contact the reporter of this story: Philip Boroff in New York at pboroff@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York's most visited museum.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York's most visited museum. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
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