WASHINGTON PARK, IL — Unfortunately for Steven Harris, he will never have the chance to learn from his latest mistake — but perhaps others will. On Saturday night the security guard for Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club in Washington Park, IL managed to accidentally discharge his firearm into his own chest, ending his life.The 38-year-old Cahokia resident was pronounced dead at 12:45 am Saturday at Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital.
Alas for the man charged with protecting the club’s patrons, a combination of drugs, guns and stupidity may have been his undoing.
According to Detective Kim McAffee, “Harris was sitting on the parking lot in his vehicle with a female friend when the accident occurred.”
Said female friend allegedly became uncomfortable when Harris pulled his small caliber pistol out of its holster and asked him to please return it. That’s when things got dicey, with the pistol discharging into Harris’ chest. He was found sprawled on the parking lot next to his van when the police arrived shortly after 12:30 am. The weapon was found on the vehicle’s floorboard, although without its clip, which was later located within Harris’ jacket pocket.
“As the victim was putting the gun away,” McAfee explained, “the unnamed woman said she heard a gunshot. We don’t know whether the victim was showing his gun to the passenger or not.”
McAffee believes that Harris thought his gun was unloaded, since some pistols will not shoot if their magazines are not inserted, even if a bullet is in the chamber.
Illinois State Police crime scene technicians processed the scene and ballistic reports are expected within the next few weeks. Along with the gun and its holster, a cell phone, keys and drug paraphernalia were found. Harris did not possess a Firearm Owners Identification Card.
