SHELBY — A “total accident, a fluke” killed a man Wednesday as he and a friend played with a homemade potato gun.

David Lee Owens, 53, of 106 S. Oakwood Drive, Kings Mountain, was outside at 203 Adams St. in Shelby with Walter Sanchez around 1:30 p.m., when the cap from the homemade potato gun shot Owens in the chest, according to Shelby police.

Here’s what the police report said:

Owens told witnesses he was fine following the incident but collapsed moments later. He was taken to Cleveland Regional Medical Center and died that evening.

Owens placed the barrel on Sanchez’ shoulder, put the potatoes in the front tube, then sprayed starter fluid in the back of the gun where a plastic cap was located. The cap blew off the back and struck Owens after he ignited the gun.

“It was just a total accident, a fluke,” said Sgt. Michael Ballen. “It was nothing intentional.”

Both the potatoes and the potato gun were taken as evidence.

Ballen has seen much in his 10 years as a police officer, he said, but what he dealt with Wednesday was a first.

Ballen suggests that no one handle potato guns unless they have proper firearm or combustible training.

“He was a good man,” said Sanchez, who worked for Owens’ general contracting business. But Sanchez declined further comment at the request of the Owens’ family, he said.

Calls to the Owens’ home were not returned Thursday. Public relations representatives at CRMC declined to comment on the exact cause of death.

Submitted on 02/13/2006

Submitted by: Michael Chumley
Reference: Shelby Star, 2/10/2006

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Had these two been of college age, I would have writeen this story off. But at the age of 53, one is, IMO, TOO OLD to be playing with such toys, and thus eligible in my book for a DA. Furthermore, I found the way he said "I'm fine" right before dropping dead rather cartoony and amusing. All in all, not a bad submission! Thanks, Michael!

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
It's been a while since we've had a potato gun submission and - to the best of my knowledge - this is the first time that the stupidity of the builder backfired on him (pun intentional). Thanks, Michael.

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