By Joe Johnson
A 21-year-old University of Georgia student who accidentally shot himself inside an on-campus building was arrested last week for reckless conduct.
William Jesse Holder, 21, of Covington “accidentally discharged his handgun into his upper left leg” the afternoon of Oct. 8 in a student lounge at UGA’s Chemistry Building on Cedar Street, according to a UGA police report.
A UGA police officer provided emergency first aid by applying a tourniquet at the scene and Holder was taken by ambulance for further treatment at Piedmont Athens Medical Center, according to the report.
The report noted that the handgun was secured as evidence and the incident was referred to the UGA police Criminal Investigation Division for further investigation.
“The investigation produced evidence that the individual involved had unsafely handled the weapon outside of the holster, which caused the accident to occur,” UGA spokesman Greg Trevor said.
“UGA police presented the facts of the case to an Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Court Judge and requested the issuance of an arrest warrant for one count of misdemeanor reckless conduct. The judge found probable cause for the charge and the warrant was issued,” Trevor said.
Holder was booked into the Clarke County Jail early Tuesday morning and was released that afternoon upon posting a $1,000 bond, according to the jail’s website.