Police are investigating after a handgun discharged during a children's swim lesson at the University of Charleston on Friday.
It was a scary moment for some parents and their children after the evening incident. No one was injured.
Jackie Kay, of Charleston, said her 17-year-old daughter teaches swim lessons through the HYCAT program, which meets at the Gorman PE Building on the University of Charleston's campus. Kay's daughter was in the pool with several children while the children's parents sat around the pool, watching the lesson.
"This man was sitting not 2 feet away and his gun went off," Kay said, recalling what her daughter told her. "She said he had a huge hole in his pocket.
"Everyone was upset. It could have been a terrible tragedy for many people."
Randy Ross, UC's director of public safety, said the man, whose name has not been released, was carrying a Springfield Arms XDM .40-caliber handgun in his back pants pocket. The man has a concealed carry permit, Ross said. Weapons are not allowed on UC's campus.
The weapon was accidentally discharged, Ross said, adding that it was a "strange" occurrence for that type of weapon, which has what he called a "double-action" safety.
"It's very hard to do that with that weapon," Ross said. "Weapons don't just go off like that. It's almost something like you have to consciously do and I know that that wasn't the case."
Ross said the discharge likely wouldn't have happened had the man been carrying the weapon in a proper holster. The round was fired through the man's back pocket, ricocheted off the tile floor and struck a bench, he said.
Ross said the man was "traumatized" by the incident.
"I question his judgment in carrying the weapon that way, but he seemed like a responsible man," Ross said. "He didn't have the weapon out. He seemed embarrassed and traumatized by the whole thing."
Ross said the man was cooperative with campus security officers and Charleston police, who also responded.
The gun was confiscated and the man was released and left with his children, Ross said.
Parents and children at the pool were distraught, he said.
"We're just so thankful that no one was hurt," Ross said.
Lt. Steve Cooper, Charleston's chief of detectives, said Charleston officers are investigating the incident and consulting with the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
"We anticipate that charges will be filed and are glad that no one, especially children, were injured or worse this evening," Cooper said.
Reach Ashley B. Craig at ashley.craig@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1244 or follow @ashleybcraig on Twitter.