Security guard charged with firing gun, hitting woman a mile away
A security guard in Long Beach has been charged with two felonies stemming from an incident last month in which he allegedly fired his gun in the air to break up a fight and wounded a woman a mile away as she slept outside her home.
Prosecutors charged Gilbert Fonoti, 23, with two counts of felony discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, said spokeswoman Jane Robison of the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
The case unfolded June 26 when groups of people began brawling outside Club Cohiba around closing time. Fonoti, who was providing security at an event at the club, unsuccessfully tried to stop the fights before allegedly fired his gun in the air.
The bullet traveled over a mile and struck the 49-year-old unidentified woman, who was sleeping on her deck. Fonoti, who could not be reached for comment, was arrested that night and released on bond, according to the Los Angeles County sheriff's website.
Authorities said they pursued charges after ballistics evidence reviewed by the Long Beach Police Department showed the bullet was fired from the gun taken from the defendant.
-- Andrew Blankstein
The problem with most armed security guards is they are not adequately trained. The private security industry relies upon the training of police departments and the military (others), as they lack the resources to provide firearms training on their own.
Anyone with a Hunters Safety Card and Hunting License should know basic firearms handling and safety practices. Problem is, only about 7% of the American population hunts or has purchased a hunting license in the past year. We are increasingly out of touch with our outdoor sports traditions and reality.
It does not help that most states, especially California, are heavily urbanized. There are simply no safe places left to just go "plinking", and this includes the National Forests and public lands. Supervised public firing ranges (indoor and outdoor) and private shooting clubs are the best alternatives for those who want to safely practice their shooting skills.
Posted by: H. Craig Bradley | July 23, 2009 at 09:55 AM
Bullets come down. It's a gravity thing.
Posted by: mizzle | July 23, 2009 at 10:18 AM
I would hope this guy went thru some kind of training before he was hired by this business or company to provide armed security services. I went thru training to carry an exposed firearm for security. It was 8 hrs in the class room and another 8 hrs on the range for the initial training.
Firing a shot to stop or break up a fight was just plain stupid. No training anywhere recommends that. Your gun is not to come out of the holster unless your life is in immenient danger of death or serious bodily injury. He should have just called 911 and let the police handle the situation.
Posted by: Rick | July 23, 2009 at 11:05 AM
It is this kind of negligence that makes real gun owners slap themselves on the forehead and shake their heads.
Posted by: Phil A. | July 23, 2009 at 11:09 AM
This is an obvious mistake, a fatal mistake, but I don't think it raises to a crime, felony. Here in Texas, one neighbor killed two fleeing robbers from the neighbor's house, next to his and even though the 911 dispatcher told him to get back inside his house, he decided to kill two human beings, not the best kind, but human beings never the less and he was let go free as a bird. The burglars were, you guesswed right, Hispanics and the killer one of those die hard racists wheret killing to them is just another sport. The "Castle defense" was extended to include the neighbor's and the owner was never in danger. Welcome to the wild West and lawlessness. 9/11 opened the gates of evil and America will not be the same, ever.
Posted by: Jorge | July 23, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Shooting a firearm as a warning device is never acceptable. It is only used as a last resort for lethal force when your life or someone elses life is at stake. Even then, you must watch your field of fire and be careful not to hit anyone behind your target. Warning shots are BS, and are only used in Hollywood movies.
The felony charges seem a little harsh, but prosecutors always charge people with the most severe penalties that they can, knowing that there will be a plea bargain.
Posted by: Fredo | July 23, 2009 at 02:14 PM
If only the sleeping woman had also had a gun, she could have protected herself!
Posted by: Bust Trusts | July 23, 2009 at 02:18 PM
Knowing Long Beach, he will probably do more time than people who shoot someone on purpose.
Posted by: ladyofargonne | July 23, 2009 at 05:39 PM
Security guard or not, Mr. Fonoti shouldn't have been carrying around an unregistered firearm expecially at his job. It seems as though security is his least concern.
Posted by: Jeff Graber | August 05, 2009 at 12:55 PM