Authorities in Pottawattamie County say a man was accidentally shot in the thigh when he went to retrieve a weapon from a gun safe. Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Chad Meyers said 46-year old Michael Heywood, of Council Bluffs, was transported to Creighton University Medical Center following the incident, which occurred at around 8:45-p.m., Monday. His injury was believed to be non-life threatening.

Meyers said officers were dispatched to 1729 6th Avenue, and when they arrived, found Heywood and three family members at the scene. The family had applied a tourniquet to Heywood’s left thigh prior to the arrival of Police.

An investigation revealed Heywood had retrieved a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun from a safe and was showing it to family members when it discharged. The round entered his left thigh in a downward trajectory and did not exit his leg/thigh. Alcohol was not a factor in the incident. The shooting was determined to be accidental, and no charges will be filed.