- March 27, 2024
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A 53-year-old Palm Coast woman suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back Thursday evening as her 27-year-old son was cleaning his pistol at the dining room table.
Deputies responded to the home at 12 Belvedere Lane shortly before 9 p.m.
Todd Johnston told deputies he had gone to the shooting range earlier in the day and had sat down to clean his gun. He said he thought he had unloaded the gun and pulled the trigger to remove the slide when the firearm dsicharged, hitting his mother in the lower back.
Deputies said Joy Johnston was in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher when the gun discharged. She was transported to Halifax Hospital for treatment of her injury.
The gun was taken for safekeeping by deputies. The shooting was determined to have been accidental and no charges are being filed.