GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) -
The Chesnee shooting range, where an accidental shooting happened Saturday, was empty Monday afternoon.
"A student was having trouble with a gun... he (the instructor) went over to help her with that, and when he did that he was unaware that a round had been chambered into the pistol," says Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright.
Wright says the 22 caliber discharged and a nearby student was shot in her arm and side. Thankfully, she's recovering.
In light of the accident, instructors across the Upstate are using the accident as a teachable moment and pointing out what went wrong.
"I think it was neglect of the safety rules... there are basic safety rules you need to practice and you need to practice them every time you pick a hand gun up," says Mike Sexton, a CWP instructor at Allen Arms in Greenville. "First, you always gotta assume that all handguns are loaded. Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Keep your finger out of the trigger and know what your target is and what's beyond it. And in my eyes the first four safety rules were broken in this situation."
He says so many people have started taking classes they've had to bulk up staff and use at least two instructors on the shooting range just be safe.
"You gotta remember folks getting their CWP is such a popular thing right now that it might be their first or second time firing a gun, so you really have to keep your eyes on them," says Sexton.
On Tuesday, deputies said following their investigation the case was closed and no charges would be filed.
According to Master Deputy Craig Bradley, the class was taught by Deputy Calvin Smith and he will not serve any type of suspension.
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