5 Injured in Accidental Shooting at Waldorf Astoria New York
Jennifer Billock June 17, 2015
A guest’s gun accidentally discharged during a wedding at New York’s Waldorf Astoria, injuring five.
Wedding festivities ended in arrests over the weekend at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Vladimir Gotlibovsky, the groom’s cousin, was carrying a 9mm Ruger pistol that accidentally discharged in the lobby while the bridal party was posing for photos. The bullet ricocheted off the floor and grazed guest Maya Rafailovich on the head. Four others suffered leg injuries from debris flying up from the floor.
Police arrested Vladimir and his cousin, Felix, who was accused of helping hiding the gun. According to WABC-TV New York, charges against the cousins have been deferred pending investigation.
Vladimir owns a Bronx liquor store and, according to his attorney, “he’s always or under a constant threat, that’s why he’s permitted to carry.”
None of the injuries reported were life threatening. Other guests at the hotel were horrified by the incident.
“How could that happen here?” asked a 53-year-old tourist from Holland. “That’s horrible. I come here and I always hear New York is dangerous, but come on? Even at the Waldorf?”
[Photo: Waldorf Astoria]
There is no such thing as an "accidental" shooting or discharge, only a "negligent" shooting or discharge. Gun safety 101 teaches that users should never put their finger on the trigger unless they are ready to fire, and to treat every gun as if it were loaded.