Burglary suspect dies when stolen rifle fires in his truck
INDEPENDENCE, Ore. (AP) — Polk County authorities say it appears a burglar died when a rifle he'd just stolen was jostled and fired during a ride down a bumpy farm road.
Detective John Williams says investigators found a shotgun and the rifle Sunday morning, side by side on the passenger-side floorboard of a stolen farm truck, barrels pointed at the driver.
Williams says it appears that a lever on the shotgun got into the trigger guard of the rifle and fired it.
The weapons were among other goods taken from a nearby house on the farmland near Independence.
Williams says detectives found no indication anybody else had been in the truck, whose engine had been running for hours.
The man was identified as 19-year-old Genaro Hernandez Mendoza.
I watch KATU news in the morning, and never caught this wonderful story. Did I miss it?
I'm not a mean person but if more karma happens...  Oh crap we'd all be Buddhists!!
Karma.
This is the stuff urban legends are born from. So glad there were no ''indications that anyone else had been in the truck.'' lol.
Some times God exhibits a sense of humor!
Justice served! One less POS out of the gene pool.
I miss the weekly world news
Now THAT is justice!
Wonder if this can count as a DGU (defensive gun use) stat?
I will join the chorus of others in proclaiming poetic justice.
Karma :), he really bit the bullet with that one didn't he. Sorry, bad pun.
The traumatized guns go back to their owners and will receive help
@Bert Isn't it just awful? Those poor guns...all that blood and guts.Â
They may need years and years of therapy!
Instant karma is gonna git ya. Finally something to cheer me up in this crime ridden country. These must be the Smart Guns the politicians are talking about. If some one steals them they kill you. Awesome, so long sucker.
What bothers me is some guy comes on-the-air and tells folks to never carry a loaded gun in a vehicle. Gosh, I guess this beaner did not get the message while he was out committing crimes against humanity. Too bad and not even sad...
@boned Aren't you the one that was prancing around on your christian hilltop with your imaginary sky friend earlier? How do you think your sky friend will judge you for your casual use of ethnic slurs?
He died of natural causes. Â Natural for an idiot.
This is unfortunate for the "victim" and his family. However it does seem to solve 3 related problems. 1) Justice albeit incredibly harsh justice...is served via self administration 2) No one has to pay to incarcerate this person 3) No one will be assaulted or injured by these stolen weapons.
Well, no one will be injured with these stolen weapons if the rightful owner will keep them secure. Evidently, they were not only not secured from the wrong hands, the rifle, at least, was kept loaded.
@Mechanic Good point...
@honorbound     thats assuming the gun cant be stolen AGAIN!
All of this individuals mistakes added up to a no win situation for him.
1. If he was not a thief he might still be alive
2. If he had made sure the weapons were unloaded before tossing in his truck..he might be alive.
3. If he had secured the weapons in a safe manner, he might be alive.
Three strikes and he is gone. Just glad no innocent person was injured, much less killed by this thief.
@justlookin Â
 4. if he had stayed in his own country he might still be alive!
With the rate they have killed each other down there, I have some doubts.
@john 5. If he had chosen a house where the guns were properly secured...he might still be alive having only stolen a cell phone or something else less lethal.
@honorbound
6. we are all glad the gun WAS loaded!
More crimes should end like this! No trial! No expensive incarceration! No blaming the cops or the courts! It's perfect!
A good gun with a guy.
See guns DO kill people. hahaha
I'm sure the family of the deceased will sue the owners of the guns.
@samsloose  maybe we can give the gun to their lawyer? for some de ja vue?
That's "deja."Â You don't speak French, do you?
@mechanic  no i dont, and your point? i am american!
Finally, a good use for guns!
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@danoseknowsEthnic slurs are not cool.
@MrBear Well, I take my place on the hill with the Lord and he was obviously not a believer in the Good Book and got exactly what he deserved, Sir.
@boned @MrBear What are you talking about?
Where you put yourself is irrelevant. The important thin is where He decides to put you. Obvious and repeated denigration of others kind of damages your standing, don't you think? Certainly makes me wonder about the sincerity of your profession of faith, but then, like I said, it is up to Him.
Instant karma. Wow.
I guess he got what he deserved.
People, even with this... guns still don't kill people.....
...bullets do.
@Peregrine And bullets magically appear, right?? Do you believe in Angels??
I do believe.
you know if things like this happened more often, i could be more accepting of gun owners, unfortunetly this is a rare outcome!
@john Are you equating possession by theft with ownership?
So self-deportation was a little different for him???
@uknow2Â Â well its a start, we only have 19,999,999 more to go!
Oh my god this is the best thing ive read all year long!
Solves 2 problems with one shot, deporting him, and my tax dollars paying for his trial
Outstanding!!!
I love stories with a happy ending...