SPECIAL

Providence man accidentally shoots himself while sitting in bed

Brian Amaral
bamaral@providencejournal.com

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence man accidentally shot himself in the scrotum while sitting on his bed Thursday night, police said.

Edward Martinez, 22, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for injuries that are not considered life-threatening. Martinez “is not facing any criminal charges at this time,” said Commander Thomas Verdi of the Providence Police Department.

Police said they responded just before 6 p.m. to the report of the shooting at 16 What Cheer Ave. Martinez’s mother told officers on scene that her son had shot himself by accident.

They found Martinez in a hallway with no pants on and a gunshot wound to the scrotum. Martinez told police he was “handling a gun while sitting on his bed and accidentally fired the gun,” police said. He told police he then took his pants off and located the wound.

Police found the firearm, a semi-automatic pistol, on his bedside table. Two other firearms were in the room. Officers seized all three guns.