Joseph Gunderson accidentally shoots himself, friend while showing off new gun

Accidental shootings with new weapons weapons are more commonplace than anyone would like, and sometimes the consequences are fatal. Back in May, for instance, Anastasia Adair fatally shot herself with an assault rifle she was bringing downstairs to show friends.

Fortunately, there were no deaths in the latest incident of this type -- but there were multiple victims. Joseph Gunderson not only shot himself with a handgun, but he also hit his roommate. Details below.

At 6:24 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department, officers were dispatched to 3710 Rebecca Lane, location of the Newport Square apartment complex.

There, they found two adult males, both suffering gunshot wounds.

What happened? The cops say Gunderson, 24, was handling a newly purchased, and loaded, 9mm handgun when he mistakenly discharged it into his own left palm.

His flesh offered little resistance to the bullet, particularly so close up. The projectile went through his hand and struck his unidentified roommate, who'd been standing nearby, in the right arm and left side.

As we learned yesterday with the report of a homicide investigation in which a man who'd been shot in the arm died, such wounds can be more dangerous than popular culture leads us to believe. Fortunately, though, the CSPD describes the injuries to Gunderson and his friend as not life threatening.

Nonetheless, Gunderson has been charged with prohibited use of weapons. That new gun proved mighty expensive.

More from our News archive circa May: "Anastasia Adair accidentally kills herself with new assault rifle."