Man shoots himself instead of snake
Investigators said a caretaker for the 75-year-old man spotted a large water moccasin on the front porch of his Astor home on Thursday afternoon.
She told the man about the snake, deputies said, and he retrieved a .38 caliber Derringer handgun loaded with birdshot, venturing outside to kill it.
Deputies said he fired once, missing his target. As he prepared to fire a second round, reports state, he discharged the gun accidentally.
A Sheriff's Office report states the shot passed through the man's left index finger. He was taken to Halifax Hospital and was expected to recover.
A Sheriff's Office report states that the shooting has been ruled an accident, and the snake was not caught or killed. The investigation is closed.
Source: orlandosentinel
