A 38-year-old Wayne County man was arrested late Saturday after the gun he was holding - and believed to be empty - discharged a bullet that struck his 15-year-old daughter in the face.
Matthew Holmes of Honesdale is being charged with recklessly endangering another person, according to the Wayne County district attorney's office.
His daughter is in stable condition at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, police said. The DA's office doesn't release the names of minors, District Attorney Janine Edwards said.
While sitting at the kitchen table at his friend's home on 11th Street in Honesdale on Saturday, Mr. Holmes withdrew his 9 mm semi-automatic handgun from its holster, a news release said.
He then removed the live round in the weapon's chamber and the magazine, believing the weapon was empty.
As Mr. Holmes moved to put the gun on the kitchen table, the weapon "went off," sending a bullet into his daughter's face, police said.
Another guest called 911, and emergency responders transported the girl via air to the trauma unit at GCMC.
Mr. Holmes is being held at the Wayne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $7,500 bail.
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