A 20-year-old man was admitted to the emergency ward of Clinique Floréal in Bagneux, France, late Thursday night into Friday morning after sustaining a gunshot wound to his hand. The injured youth, reportedly from Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine), told authorities that the incident was accidental.
According to sources, the young man claimed he was near an individual who was handling a gun when it accidentally discharged. The incident allegedly occurred in Colombes, the victim’s hometown. However, police are still verifying his account and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Clinique Floréal, where the victim was taken, specializes in hand and limb surgeries. The young man was transported to the clinic by a nurse. Medical staff noted that assessing the severity and nature of the injury prior to surgery was challenging.
Experts suggest that gunshot wounds to the hand are relatively uncommon. Dr. William Mamane, head of the COS Main in Seine-Saint-Denis, explained that such injuries typically occur during recreational activities or firearms practice. He emphasized that gunshot wounds can damage muscles, nerves, blood vessels, or bones in the hand, potentially limiting mobility.
Another specialist, Dr. Amir Hariri, added that severe damage to the hand might require graft surgery. He warned that if the wrist is affected, the patient could risk losing functionality in the hand entirely.
Police have indicated that targeting the hand is not typically associated with retaliatory actions unless there is a specific intent to disable someone. Retaliatory shootings more commonly target the legs.
For now, investigators are treating the young man’s statement with caution. Authorities are awaiting further evidence and completing their investigation before drawing any conclusions.
