A controversial Koran-burning pastor accidentally discharged his firearm Thursday night in the parking lot of a TV station after appearing on a talk show with a Muslim cleric.
Terry Jones had appeared on Fox 2's Let it Rip program along with Hassan Al-Qazwini, the leader of Deaborn's Islamic Center of America, prior to the incident.
"After the show wrapped, the imam was chatting in the rear of the building while Terry Jones and [assistant pastor] Wayne Sapp walked with police officers out the front door to their car," MyFoxDetroit.com reported. "As the pastor gets into the car to leave for the night, suddenly there's a loud 'boom.'"
"Officers heard a gunshot, approached the vehicle, asked Mr. Jones if he was OK," Southfield Police Lt. Nick Loussia told The Detroit Free Press. "He was, and they also observed he had a gun in his hand."
That .40 caliber handgun and another firearm found in the car were briefly confiscated by officers.
"Based on the facts of the investigation it did not appear a crime had been committed," Loussia said. Jones and Sapp were allowed to leave after the weapons were returned to them.
"It was definitely accidental," Jones later said. "I actually have no explanation, no excuse."
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has filed petition in Florida district court to prevent Jones from holding a rally outside a Michigan mosque.
Worthy said the risk of violence was too great to allow Jones to hold the rally.
"We have made it very clear that we are coming there with very, very peaceful intentions," the pastor explained to WXYZ-TV. "We will be armed. We do have concealed weapons permits."
h/t: Talking Points Memo
