Chelmsford Man Shoots Himself Doing Holster Drills

CHELMSFORD, MA — A Chelmsford man who told police he accidentally shot himself with a Glock pistol while practicing drawing from a holster now faces multiple weapons charges. Shawn Limerick, 49, of Chelmsford, was indicted in November in Middlesex County Superior Court in connection to a 2016 incident in Boxborough. Limerick was charged with two counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device and one count of improper storage of a firearm.

The shooting happened November 20, 2016, at the Harvard Sportsman Club in Boxborough, according to Boxborough police Chief Warren Ryder. Officers encountered Limerick in his vehicle.

"Limerick exited his vehicle and stated that he was doing drills drawing from a holster when a round went off and struck him in the leg," Ryder said in a statement. "After an initial investigation, police learned that Limerick did not have proper licensing to legally possess a large capacity firearm or large capacity feeding device, and had been operating a large capacity pistol when the incident occurred."

Ryder continued, "Upon further investigation, police located an unsecured 9 mm Glock and four magazines -- two empty 10 round magazines and two 15 round magazines that each had ammunition in them -- in the trunk of Limerick's vehicle."

"This incident should serve as a stern reminder of the importance of gun safety including operation, storage and proper licensing. Thankfully, this individual did not injure himself or anyone else more seriously."

Photo credit: Shutterstock