A West Virginia couple has given muzzleloading enthusiasts a stark reminder to research, respect, and always be safe around our muzzleloading firearms. A police press release shares details about a couple who arrived at a Gas Station at 5:00am with a hand and head injury.

The investigation is still ongoing, but it sounds like there were some severe gaps in firearms safety education on top of a mis-sized projectile or improper powder for the muzzleloader. Muzzleloading enthusiasts know and share often that one should never point the muzzle of a firearm at anything you don’t want to destroy.

Read the full press release below:

Acme, WV- A male and female are in the hospital this morning after a shooting incident in the Cabin

Creek area of eastern Kanawha County.

Earlier this morning around 5:00 a.m., Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputy B.L. Shamblin was dispatched to

Go Mart, 15127 MacCorkle Avenue SE in Cabin Creek about two possible shooting victims. The victims were allegedly driven to the gas station and requested help. Deputies responded and located the two victims, a 24-year-old male, and a 31-year-old female. The male had a gunshot wound to the head and the female had a gunshot wound to the hand. Both victims were transported to and remain at CAMC General Hospital with critical but non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputy Shamblin is still investigating but has determined the incident occurred in the Acme area of Cabin Creek and was the result of the two victims not only mishandling a black powder firearm but also using improper ammunition inside the weapon. The carelessness used by the male and female caused the weapon to misfire and explode when fired and in return caused the injuries.

This investigation is currently ongoing and at this time no criminal charges have been filed in this case.

Should you have any information regarding this case, please get in touch with Deputy B.L. Shamblin at Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, 304-357-0169, or submit a “tip” at www.kanawhasheriff.us under the “Tips” tab.

I Love Muzzleloading recommends the NMLRA/NRA Muzzleloading Manuel, available from the NMLRA here.