SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The 22-year-old Navy SEAL left on life-support following an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head died Saturday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Gene "Geno" Clayton Jr., was taken off life support and died about 7:25 a.m., Lt. Cmdr. Frank Magallon told the newspaper.
The 22-year-old sailor, who had been drinking with a woman at a bar before the pair returned to his residence in the 1800 block of Grand Avenue about 2 a.m. Thursday, was showing the woman his 9 mm handgun when the accident occurred, according to San Diego police.
The serviceman offered to let his friend hold the weapon, which he mistakenly believed was unloaded, and when she declined, he tried to demonstrate how safe it was by putting it to his head and pulling the trigger, police said.
The sailor was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla following the shooting, where police said he was put on life support.
Clayton was a recent graduate of the Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams program, which trains elite special-operations tactical units, police said.
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE PREVIOUS STORY BELOW.
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A 22-year-old Navy SEAL was gravely wounded early Thursday when he shot himself in the head at his Pacific Beach home while trying to convince a companion that the pistol he was showing off was safe to handle, authorities said.
The shooting in the 1800 block of Grand Avenue left the sailor on life support at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, according to San Diego police. Authorities initially reported that the man had died.
The serviceman, who had been drinking with a woman at a bar before they returned to his residence, was showing her his 9 mm handgun when the accident occurred, SDPD Officer Frank Cali said.
The man offered to let his friend hold the weapon, which he mistakenly believed was unloaded, according to Cali. When she declined, he tried to demonstrate how safe it was by putting it to his head and pulling the trigger.
The sailor, whose name was not released, graduated recently from the Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams program, which trains elite special-operations tactical units.