On Sunday, September 20th, just after 7:30 pm, Lincoln City Police Officers responded to McKay’s Market located in Lincoln City on a reported gunshot wound.
Upon arrival, it was discovered a male, identified as 29-year-old Nicholas J. Ellingford of Lincoln City had sustained an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to his groin area and leg.
Investigation revealed that Ellingford was inside the store and as he was waiting in the checkout line, he un-holstered a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol from his waistband so that he could show it off to a friend.
As Ellingford was placing the firearm back in the front of his pants near the zipper & button areas, he accidentally pulled the trigger causing the firearm to discharge. The bullet entered into Ellingford’s groin area before exiting out the lower thigh of his leg, narrowly missing the femoral artery.
Officers on the scene immediately rendered first aid before medics from Pac-West Ambulance & North Lincoln Fire arrived to take over treatment. Ellingford was transported code-3 to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital where he was immediately flown, via Life Flight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon.
No one else was injured in this incident. A criminal investigation is ongoing, as Ellingford did not have a concealed handgun license and his act was found to be reckless since it placed several people in harms way.
