A Chicago woman has been killed after a gun that was hidden among donated clothes accidentally went off, hitting her in the chest.
Carmen Dominguez was working at the charity clothing store in Chicago’s Washington Heights neighbourhood when a co-worker picked up a sock.
A .22-caliber gun inside the sock fell into the co-worker’s hand, and accidentally fired.
Sister station WLS-TV in Chicago was told Dominguez had worked at the thrift store for over 25 years. She had received awards from the store as a longtime valued employee. Dominguez is survived by a husband and two children.
“I don’t know what to tell her. How do you tell your daughter that she doesn’t have a mother anymore?” said Victor Campos, victim’s husband.
Unique Thrift issued a statement on Friday that said, in part: “We a [sic] extremely saddened about the tragic accident in our Ashland store that silted [sic] in the passing of one of our valued team members. Our thoughts and hearts are with her family and friends during this very sad and difficult time.”
Area South police are investigating the death. They said preliminary indications are that this is a tragic, accidental incident. U.S. Labor Department agents are also investigating.
Agencies/Canadajournal