Sioux City Journal

Accidental shooting injures two WIT students

By Dolly A. Butz
dbutz@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008

SIOUX CITY -- Two Western Iowa Tech students were wounded Sunday night in what police are calling an accidental shooting.

The shooting occurred at 10:27 p.m. at the Sunridge Court apartment complex, 4701 Stone Avenue, Apt. C-1.

Sioux City police Lt. Marti Reilly said Monday that 21-year-old Brian Skou, of Sioux City, was handling a 9 mm handgun when it accidentally discharged, striking him in the hand. The bullet continued through Skou's hand and struck roommate Matthew Kunze, 21, of Sioux City in the shoulder.

Three roommates were at the apartment-style dorm on the WIT campus at the time of the shooting.

Both men were transported to Mercy Medical Center for treatment. Reilly said their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

A Mercy Medical Center spokeswoman said Monday that no information is being released about Skou and Kunze's conditions at their request.

Reilly said investigators do not know at this time why the handgun, which was registered to one of the roommates, was being handled.

Troy Jasman, WIT dean of administrative services, said to the best of his knowledge the student was cleaning the weapon when it discharged. Jasman said the student code of conduct prohibits firearms on campus.

"Our campus has always been a safe campus and still is a safe campus," he said.

A student found in possession of a weapon, Jasman said, would be subject to an investigation, hearings and disciplinary proceedings. The most severe punishment would be expulsion from the college.

Reilly said the incident remains under investigation.

"Treat all guns as if they're loaded," he said. "Don't point them at anything you don't intend to shoot at. Guns are not toys."

Story Comments

nate wrote on Dec 4, 2008 1:49 PM:

" I think everyone should only worry about the facts. not what they think happened. if you know the facts you would see the truth. People jump to conclusions to quick. Wait to see what happens. "

Jacob wrote on Dec 3, 2008 2:55 AM:

" Does this police science program not teach about gun safety? Kind of scary that these students don't know the basics, especially if they are interested in protecting us citizens. Maybe WIT should screen the people they let into the program, instead of letting just any idiot come in and endanger others. I understand that accidents happen, but they shouldn't when a person should know how to avoid it. "

mir wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:57 PM:

" Accidents happen to everyone at one point or another. Maybe one should make sure they have information besides what the media is sharing before making judgement. "

RH wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:38 AM:

" It is obvious that WIT is going on what information they have on the shooting. It is to my understanding that they have security on staff 24/7. But as we all know, they can not be every where at once. This is not about WIT, it is about the state of our society. When kids are brought up to believe that there is no consequences for there actions, then bad things happen. I am not saying that this is the case here. I do not no whom these individuals are, but we all need to take a good look, and take an interest in what is going on in our childrens lives. "

Stuart wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:27 AM:

" Kind of hard to clean a gun if it is loaded. Sounds like WIT is trying to downplay the severity of the Incident, especially when it involves a Police Science student. "