Crime & Safety

Man Accidentally Shot A Toilet At A Manassas Restaurant: Police

A man was charged with reckless handling of a firearm after shooting a toilet at a Manassas restaurant on Saturday, police said.

A man was charged after shooting a toilet at a Manassas restaurant on Saturday, authorities said. The incident occurred at the CJ Finz Raw Bar and Grille on West Street.
A man was charged after shooting a toilet at a Manassas restaurant on Saturday, authorities said. The incident occurred at the CJ Finz Raw Bar and Grille on West Street. (Shutterstock)

Updated at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. An original version of the story said the shooting occured at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday instead of 10:30 a.m.

MANASSAS, VA — A man accidentally shot a toilet at a Manassas restaurant on Saturday, the Manassas City Police Department said in a report.

No injuries were reported in the shooting.

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The man, 62-year-old Gerard Thompson, was charged with one count of reckless handling of a firearm. His court date is pending.

If convicted, Thompson could face up to 1 year in prison, based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.

Find out what's happening in Manassaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the CJ Finz Raw Bar & Grille on West Street, according to the restaurant's owner. Witnesses told police officers that they saw Thompson enter the bathroom just before they heard a gun shot.

Thompson then walked out of the bathroom and rejoined his group at the restaurant, authorities said.

Chris Sellers, the owner and operator of CJ Finz, told Patch that Thompson was able to return to his table and finish his brunch.

Investigators believe Thompon accidentally shot the toilet while trying to move a gun from its holster to his pocket. The police department said Thompson's firearm was confiscated at the scene.


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