Franklin police arrest man after accidental shooting Wednesday

Franklin Police have made an arrest after an accidental gun discharge Wednesday evening left one man with a hip wound. 

Police said Jacob Champney, 41, and an unidentified man, 46, were “displaying firearms to each other” inside a residence on Plains Court when Champney’s weapon went off accidentally.  Both are convicted felons and currently experiencing homelessness. 

Champney was charged with reckless conduct and felon in possession of a firearm. He was arrested later Wednesday night inside the residence and is being held in preventative detention. Franklin police said further charges “may be forthcoming” but none other than felon in firearm possession are expected at this time.

Responding to an emergency call at 6:17 p.m. reporting a victim with a gunshot wound, police and paramedics located the unidentified man at the treeline behind the AutoZone on Central Street. He was “walking, talking, conscious and aware,” and received medical attention at the scene before being taken to Concord Hospital around 7:30 p.m., according to Police Chief David Goldstein.

Anthony Chase, the evening manager at AutoZone, said he was chatting outside with a regular customer when they saw the victim walk through the trees   from the gas station next door. He appeared to be limping and cried out several times, Chase said. He also was talking on a cell phone, and Chase overheard him say that he had been shot, but “didn’t need an ambulance.”

The wounded man had been driven from Plains Court to the area where he was met by emergency responders, which Goldstein said Wednesday is near a homeless encampment. He is in stable condition.