Quesnel, B.C. – A Quesnel man is recovering from non life-threatening injuries after he was accidentally shot by a family member over the weekend.

Quesnel RCMP Constable Krista Vrolyk says police responded to a report of a shooting Saturday night at a residence on Callis Road.

They arrived to find a forty year old man with a gunshot wound to his arm and were able to determine the shot had been fired by a 42 year old family member.

Vrolyk says an investigation revealed the shooting was accidental and that the shooter believed the gun was unloaded and then discharged by mistake.

“This is an unfortunate incident which could have been prevented,” says Vrolyk. “This incident serves as a reminder that all firearms should be treated as though they are loaded unless the person handling them has taken proper steps to prove it’s unloaded and safe.”