Bullet Rips Through Wall, Hits Woman In Back

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — A 19-year-old Largo woman getting a pedicure at a Seminole nail salon Friday night was shot in the back when a firearm went off at a nearby gun shop. The bullet ripped through a wall, entered the neighboring nail salon and struck the woman, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say they were called out to Dara’s Nail Salon and Day Spa, 9049 Starkey Road, around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10. When they arrived, they found Yaminah Gilbert under the care of paramedics for a gunshot wound to the back. As paramedics took Gilbert to a local hospital for treatment, deputies began looking into the unusual incident.

Investigators say Mark Smith, 43, was working at a neighboring business, R&R Firearms, 9051 Starkey Road, just before the shooting occurred. Smith told detectives he was unloading a customer’s .45 caliber handgun when it accidentally went off.

“Smith informed detectives that he was clearing the loaded firearm when he pulled the slide back and emptied the chamber round from inside the firearm,” an email from the agency said. “When Smith sent the slide forward on the handgun, there was a magazine with ammunition still inside the handgun and the gun accidentally discharged.”

Detectives say the bullet traveled south, blasted through the adjoining wall, and went into the nail salon.

Gilbert was getting a pedicure when the bullet struck her in the back. She told authorities she felt pain when the bullet struck her, but didn’t know what happened. Smith, the email said, came forward and reported the accidental discharge of the weapon.

Gilbert was treated and released from the hospital. No charges have been filed at this time.

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