A Hancock County (MS) deputy who accidentally shot himself while cleaning a gun at his home has died.
Deputy John Schmidt, 65, a veteran law enforcement officer and educator who had been hired as a part-time deputy on Dec. 18th died of an accidental gunshot wound to the chest.
The initial investigation showed that he was cleaning a personal firearm at his home when the gun discharged.
The Sun Herald reported that Schmidt had joined the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department a little more than two weeks ago as a part-time deputy and was working to get reserve certification.
Schmidt is survived by his wife and three children.
Schmidt was a veteran officer with the New Orleans Police Department and a reserve officer with the Madison (Mississippi) Police Department for three years before his retirement from law enforcement in 2000.
Schmidt also was a retired educator, having taught at Archbishop Rummel High School for 16 years.
