Man Accidentally Shoots Friend In Leg In Wolcott Parking Lot: PD

WOLCOTT, CT — A man accidentally shot his friend in the leg while showing him a rifle Thursday night, according to police.

Ryan Lafrancois, 35, of Bristol, was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, and unlawful discharge of a firearm, police announced Friday. Police did not release his age or address.

Police said they were notified around 11 p.m. Thursday that a victim with a gunshot wound had arrived at Waterbury Hospital.

Investigators determined the shooting happened in a parking lot on Townline Road, where they found a pool of blood and other evidence consistent with a shooting, police said.

Detectives interviewed the victim at Waterbury Hospital. According to police, the victim said he had been sitting in his vehicle in the Townline Road parking lot waiting for his friend, Lafrancois.

The victim told police Lafrancois entered the vehicle carrying a large gun case, then opened the case to show the victim a rifle.

“As he removed the rifle from the case, the firearm discharged,” police said. “The round traveled through the gun case, struck the victim in the leg, and exited through the vehicle's door.”

According to police, Lafrancois discarded the rifle and gun case in nearby woods before driving the victim to Waterbury Hospital in the victim's vehicle.

The victim was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital, police said.

Lafrancois was held on a $100,000 bond, and he was expected to appear in Superior Court in Waterbury Friday morning.