ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
DESOTO PARISH, LA (KSLA) – A train engineer was shot in the face while running his train down tracks in Desoto Parish.
This happened around 5 PM Monday December 20th on the railroad tracks between Frierson and Wallace Lake Road.
KCS Train Engineer Paul Griffin was in the cab when he was shot in the jaw. Investigators say the shooter was about 400 yard away, setting the sights on his gun when he fired his rifle, striking Griffin.
Investigators believe the shooting was accidental. Griffin remains in the hospital in stable condition.
Last we heard he is doing better. I work for KCS so everyone's keeping up to date
I am surprised that the bullet when thru the cab, latest engine use a window glazing that must resist .22 bullet fired at ~6 feet. Sounds like a really bad luck to me.
They were on SD-40's from what we've heard. KCS has been pulling old units out of storage due to high demand, but most the newer KCS motors are tied up paying back hours to other railroads.
I am surprised that the bullet when thru the cab, latest engine use a window glazing that must resist .22 bullet fired at ~6 feet. Sounds like a really bad luck to me.
DeSoto Parish sheriff's investigators said Tuesday they will file firearms-violation charges against a man who was sighting a rifle in when he unintentionally shot and wounded an engineer on a freight train that was idling nearby.
Kansas City Southern engineer Paul Griffin suffered non life-threatening injuries after he was shot in the lower jaw on Monday.
The decision to file charges of illegal use of a firearm against Larry Blair of Frierson came after a meeting between sheriff's investigators, the district attorney's office and KCS police.
The shooting happened off Louisiana Highway 175 near the town of Frierson. Sheriff's investigators said Blair had just bought a new rifle and went to the back of his property to adjust the sight.
The KCS train had stopped and Blair apparently didn't know it was more than 1,000 feet behind his property, investigators said. One of the rounds went through an open window of the locomotive and struck the engineer.
DeSoto Parish sheriff's investigators said Tuesday they will file firearms-violation charges against a man who was sighting a rifle in when he unintentionally shot and wounded an engineer on a freight train that was idling nearby.
Kansas City Southern engineer Paul Griffin suffered non life-threatening injuries after he was shot in the lower jaw on Monday.
The decision to file charges of illegal use of a firearm against Larry Blair of Frierson came after a meeting between sheriff's investigators, the district attorney's office and KCS police.
The shooting happened off Louisiana Highway 175 near the town of Frierson. Sheriff's investigators said Blair had just bought a new rifle and went to the back of his property to adjust the sight.
The KCS train had stopped and Blair apparently didn't know it was more than 1,000 feet behind his property, investigators said. One of the rounds went through an open window of the locomotive and struck the engineer.
Littlefoot is right. A target is considered not only what you are about to shoot, but what is beyond the target. One of the first rules of handgunning or long gun. In Michigan, if you deer hunt in a region below M-55, I believe you can only use a shotgun and not a rifle, since the topography is essentially flat and rifle bullets will travel thousands of feet beyond their intended target.
Always know what is beyond what you will shoot.
Never point your gun at something you don't intend to shoot.
Never put your finger on the trigger until you intend to shoot.
Guns are always loaded until you verify otherwise.
This guy did not take safety seriously. No one should handle a gun unless they take safety seriously. He was shooting in an unsafe place. This was his property and he must have known what was beyond it. So this is gross negligence.
An engineer on one of my other groups heard a thud against the side of the cab a few weeks ago. Someone had shot at the locomotive and hit the outside edge of the windowframe. With a deer slug.
I agree with the four laws of gun safety. I'll add this one: the safety is on until you have verified that what you're aiming at is what you're intending to shoot.
Basically Christmas has been canceled, however we are all celebrating that he is still with us.
As for the train, Paul took the train to a siding, which was around a mile away, all while bleeding all over the place, his conductor who is also a fireman, was trying to tend to Paul's injury, where he parked the train and still went by the book to protect the train and then shut down two back engines to conserve fuel, all before he would stop and let Tim take care of him. Those of you who do know Paul, can understand why he did this, but many will not understand how hard it must have been to do so.
I know that all the reports make it sound like it was just a scratch, but no one in the media have inquired about the actually injury as far as the damage done. I can tell you that it is a severe injury, and it looks like he will be in the SICU for at least another few days. It will be a long road to recovery. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
John
what a guy to put the safety of the train and to follow protocol like that amazing is all i can say truly amazing most people wouldn't have been able to do anywhere close to what he did...
John let him know we are sad to hear of his bad news. I dont know this guy but from what you just said it sounds like he is a real stand up guy. To have a gun shot to the head and still get the job done goes way beyond the call of duty. Hope his luck turns around or at least can enjoy the home time while he heals up....
