Bend woman shot after accidental discharge, man arrested

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- According to Bend Police, a Bend man was arrested Saturday night after accidentally shooting a 24-year-old woman through the floor of a home in the 63000 block of Layton Avenue.

Brandon Paul Ferris, 53, faces assault charges after a firearm discharged inside the residence.

Bend Police responded to the home at approximately 8:08 p.m. on Saturday, August 22nd, following a report of a gunshot wound.

Investigators determined that Ferris was in an upstairs bedroom showing a 9 mm handgun to a visitor when he mistakenly loaded a live round instead of a training cartridge and fired the gun.

The bullet passed through the bedroom floor and struck the woman in the room below, hitting her in the arm and abdomen.

Arriving officers rendered aid to the victim, who was then transported to St. Charles Bend with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ferris was arrested at the scene without incident and transported to the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault and fourth-degree assault.

Following the incident, Bend Police issued a reminder to firearm owners regarding safe handling practices. Department officials emphasized that gun owners must know how to properly handle and secure firearms, keep weapons pointed in a safe direction at all times, keep fingers off the trigger until ready to shoot and check that a firearm is unloaded whenever picking it up.