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Miami off-duty officer's gun accidentally discharges at Publix, grazing woman's leg

 
Vernon Messier, 69, was accidentally shot in the leg Sunday afternoon at a Publix supermarket, 21221 Collier Pky. in Land O' Lakes. [Google]
Vernon Messier, 69, was accidentally shot in the leg Sunday afternoon at a Publix supermarket, 21221 Collier Pky. in Land O' Lakes. [Google]
Published May 15, 2019

A woman was wounded Wednesday afternoon when she was grazed by a bullet when an off-duty police officer's gun accidentally discharged at a Miami-area Publix.

According to broadcast reports, the off-duty City of Miami officer was in line at the Publix at 16800 Kendall Drive when the gun discharged as he reached into his pocket to pay.

The bullet ricocheted and grazed the woman's leg, according to reports.

The woman's identity, and the extent of her injury, were not yet known.

A number of accidental gun discharges have taken place in the Tampa Bay area in recent weeks, including one at a Publix in Land O'Lakes in which a woman wounded her husband, and another in which a man was killed while working on a roof.

Recent incidents:

They were standing at a Publix register when her purse fell. Her Derringer fired and hit him.

Neighbor on accidental shooting death: 'It could have happened when we were standing there talking.'

Woman shot after friend's gun accidentally goes off at Tyrone Square Mall

Deputy's gun fires in Pasco middle school cafeteria

This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates.

Contact Carl Lisciandrello at clisciandrello@tampabay.com. Follow @carlmarks_Times