Bend man accidentally shot by lifelong friend, deputies say

A 22-year-old Bend man was accidentally shot in the chest Saturday night by his 21-year-old lifelong friend, who was unloading a handgun at a home east of the city, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Trevor Rogers was flown by Life Flight helicopter to St. Charles Bend, where he was listed in fair condition late Saturday night, according to a house supervisor.

Sgt. Mike Sundberg said no criminal charges were filed against the man who fired the gun, Julian Messner, but the incident will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office for review.

Deputies were called to Messner’s home, in the area of Skywagon Drive near Cougar Trail, on the report of an accidental shooting.

The shooting occurred when Messner tried to unload a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, Sundberg said.

Messner released the handgun’s magazine and thought he cycled the action on the gun to remove the bullet from the chamber, according to the sergeant. But the bullet did not clear the gun’s chamber, and Messner’s finger depressed the trigger, causing it to fire and hit Rogers in the upper torso.

Messner immediately called 911 and rendered aid, Sundberg said. Bend Fire medics treated Rogers on scene and he later was able to provide a statement that supported it being an accidental shooting.

“He’s very lucky,” Sundberg said of the shooting victim.

The sergeant noted that investigators found neither man was impaired by alcohol or drugs.

The sergeant said the sheriff’s office would like to remind everyone to follow the 12 Golden Rules for safe gun handling:

1. Always treat the gun as if it’s loaded
2. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
3. Always keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to shoot
4. Always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it
5. Never point the gun at anything that you don’t intend to destroy
6. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it
7. Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the gun you are using
8. Always use proper ammunition
9. Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before loading and shooting
10. If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, hold your shooting position for several seconds, then with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, carefully unload the gun
11. Don’t rely on the gun’s safety to keep it from firing
12. Be aware of your surroundings when handling guns so you don’t trip or lose your balance and accidentally point and/or fire the gun at anyone or anything