Veteran Ohio Police Shooting Instructor Who Shot Student in Class Is Charged

We talked about Ohio firearms instructor Terry Dunlap in August of 2013 when we discovered that the student he shot in his concealed carry class was his second victim.

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A special prosecutor declined to file felony charges, but a city attorney felt that the negligent discharge was worth prosecuting:

Violet Township Trustee Terry J. Dunlap Sr. was charged yesterday with negligent assault in connection with the accidental shooting of a student taking a concealed-carry class that Dunlap taught last year.

Lancaster Assistant City Prosecutor Stephanie Hall filed the charge in Fairfield County Municipal Court. She said Dunlap would be sent a summons to appear in court.

Dunlap, 74, said he did not know he had been charged and had no comment.

Conviction of the third-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, Hall said.

Dunlap accidentally shot Michael Piemonte, 27, of Pataskala, while he was demonstrating a .38-caliber handgun. The bullet hit Piemonte’s right arm. The shooting occurred on Aug. 10 toward the end of a 12-hour day of training in gun handling and safety.

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As noted, this is Dunlap’s second time negligently shooting someone. Dunlap was a Pickerington police department auxiliary lieutenant when he shot a teenager in the leg while on a hayride in 1977.

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We do not need instructors that are more of a danger to concealed carry students than the criminals they are training to defend themselves against. That the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission is only suspending his teaching credentials for a year is absurd. If found guilty, I hope that the commission revisits their decision and considers retiring Dunlap permanently.

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