Phoenix man killed in gun-safety demo | www.azstarnet.com ® — Geez.

A 26-year-old Phoenix man accidentally killed himself early Sunday while explaining gun safety to two Sierra Vista residents.

Samuel Benally Jr. was at an apartment on West Tacoma Street when he said guns should be kept unloaded because people could point them at their heads, said Sierra Vista police Sgt. Brett Mitchell.

Benally then demonstrated by putting his own 9mm Ruger, which he believed to be unloaded, to his head and firing it, Mitchell said.

Found by Keith Ray.




  1. Ah_Yea says:

    I’m going to guess those two Sierra Vista residents really learned how dangerous a gun could be in the wrong hands.

  2. Sean says:

    🙁 That’s a bummer. Just takes one split-second mistake. Gotta be SO careful around guns. Can’t let your guard down for a second!

  3. kb3myham says:

    sad…….

  4. Jägermeister says:

    I guess his luck finally ran out…

  5. RTaylor says:

    That chambered round has gotten quite a few. Best habit is to treat any weapon as if it’s loaded. So don’t put it to your head unless you really mean to.

  6. Improbus says:

    It’s hard to feel sorry for a moran.

  7. brm says:

    Never point the business end at something you don’t want to kill, loaded or not.

  8. bobbo says:

    How many people have stabbed themselves to death by accident?

  9. Jägermeister says:

    #9 – bobbo – How many people have stabbed themselves to death by accident?

    While doing a knife safety demo?

  10. Wretched Gnu says:

    Um, hello! The man was clearly committing suicide, but didn’t want any insurance payments to his family to default because of suicide. So he sets up this scenario with its convenient witnesses…

  11. Angel H. Wong says:

    He sure taught them a lesson they will never forget!

  12. chuck says:

    In a related story, Adam Curry accidentally shot himself twice in the back of the head while demonstrating gun safety.

  13. Unless you are planning to shoot someone, always keep your booger hook off the bang switch.

  14. steve says:

    Some great coaches suck at the sport they coach. Supposedly.

  15. Dallas says:

    #14 LOL.. Booger hook? Good one.

    Anyway, sad story.

  16. Troublemaker says:

    Funny story. I feel sorry for the poor people that had to clean the mess up.

  17. deowll says:

    You have to concede the man proved his point.

  18. GF says:

    I have heard of people accidentally cutting off fingers or wounding themselves with knives, axes or swords. These are the same dumb asses that play around with guns.

  19. Patrick says:

    #11 Most probable explanation.

  20. Ah_Yea says:

    #19, GR.

    Absolutely. Like the 7 fingered teacher in woodshop class teaching how not to use a saw.

  21. Canucklehead says:

    of course, guns don’t kill …..

  22. skunkman62 says:

    HAW HAW

  23. Mac Guy says:

    I actually have made a few videos regarding different firearms, and a number of them are safety-related. Anytime I handle a firearm, I always demonstrate first that it is either unloaded or that the only “rounds” present are dummy rounds known as “snap caps” (completely inert rounds with zero charge present).

    This is a tragic example of following a basic, fundamental tenet of firearm safety.

  24. chudez says:

    Has he been nominated for a Darwin Award yet?

    MacGuy — I would like to add, even after demonstrating that the gun is empty or with inert rounds, always point it in a safe direction. assume it is loaded (even after demonstrating it isn’t). not because a bullet may magically teleport into an unloaded gun, but because you want to develop the habit or mindset that a gun may be loaded and should therefore be treated as a dangerous weapon.

  25. faxon says:

    This is so pointless. Any RESPONSIBLE firearms owner knows how to handle and how to respect a weapon. This dumbshit was not responsible, nor was he very bright. Goodbye, dummy.
    I also own a chainsaw. I have cut cords and cords of firewood, felled 70 foot pine trees, and never hurt myself with it, or dropped a tree on my head. Of course, I never pointed the running chain saw at my throat or wrist, either. But then, I am a RESPONSIBLE chain saw owner. Hey. You should all ban chain saws, libs.

  26. faxon says:

    Here in San Francisco last year, there was a Police rookie who was just handed his shiny new Government issued police firearm. He was sooo much better than every other San Franciscan, since HE was allowed to carry a weapon around all day long. Well, Mr. Policeman went to a party, and thought he would impress the girls. He got to playing with his new gun. He shot himself in the head, showing everyone how dangerous a gun could be in the wrong hands. Think about that for a moment. He PUT THE GUN TO HIS FUCKING HEAD! Just goofing around, I guess. That is what they teach in Police Academy, obviously. Goodbye, Mr. Better-than-me-Policeman.

  27. faxon says:

    I wonder if the city got the gun back. It must have been a nice 40S&W Glock or similar, costing about $500. The city deserved it back, don’t you think?

  28. Greg Allen says:

    I had it drilled in me that you ALWAYS handle a gun _AS IF_ it where loaded, even if you are 100% sure it is not.

    I’m a huge supporter of gun regulation but I don’t think this sad case makes a point, one way or the other — pro or con gun control.

    I think guns should only be issued to people who have passed a gun safety course but even that won’t prevent this kind of behavior.

  29. bobbo says:

    I also believe all guns should be treated as if they were loaded even when 100% sure they are unloaded, because behind every gun, is an idiot.

  30. Lou says:

    LOL !


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