CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A Chillicothe man, Thomas A. Sprouse, is facing a fourth-degree misdemeanor after accidentally discharging his firearm and injuring himself in the early hours of Tuesday. Sprouse thought he heard an intruder in his home and armed himself, only to inadvertently shoot his left hand.
Responding to Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) after being alerted by the staff about the incident, authorities discovered Sprouse had taken the .38 special Smith and Wesson revolver from his nightstand, thinking there was an intruder. However, after checking his kitchen and laundry room, he mishandled the weapon, leading to the gunshot wound, police wrote.
His son, with the same first and last name was the only other individual in the residence. He recounted being asleep at the time and hearing a noise which he believed might have been a gunshot. He then assisted his father, placing the gun away before transporting him to the hospital. Notably, neither individual made any emergency calls following the incident.
Upon checking Sprouse’s criminal history, no records of violent felonies or any conditions that would prohibit him from firearm ownership were found, police said. However, Sprouse was cited for the negligent discharge of a firearm within city limits.
Sprouse is scheduled to appear in the Chillicothe Municipal Court on November 13. The firearm was not confiscated by the authorities, and Sprouse was left in the care of ARMC staff to recover from his injuries.