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Deputy shot in hand as he picks up gun

He is expected to fully recover from the injury suffered while responding to a report of a shooting.

By MOISES MENDOZA
Published June 30, 2006

HOMOSASSA - A Citrus County sheriff's deputy is recovering at Citrus Memorial Health System after a handgun he picked up went off in his hand.

Deputy Juan Santiago, 33, underwent surgery to repair damage to his left hand Thursday, and doctors expect him to make a full recovery because there was no tendon or nerve damage.

According to sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Tierney, Santiago was with another deputy and a sergeant who went to the scene of an alleged shooting Wednesday evening at 8201 Highland St.

When they got there, they found Francis Charles Dunigan Jr., 26, lying on a couch on the front porch, pretending to be shot and unconscious.

As deputies eyed a loaded semi-automatic handgun also on the porch, they shook Dunigan's shoulder to try to revive him. Dunigan got up and began scuffling with the deputies, Tierney said.

When Santiago went to pick up the handgun, it fired into the top of his left hand and the bullet went through his palm.

Paramedics already on the scene to tend to Dunigan took Santiago to a hospital.

Dunigan was taken for psychological evaluation under Florida's Baker Act, which allows law officers to detain people who appear likely to harm themselves or others because of mental illness.

It's unclear whether he will be charged with a crime.

The Sheriff's Office doesn't know why Dunigan pretended to be shot, although deputies on the scene asked him whether he was trying to get his girlfriend's attention, Tierney said.

Moises Mendoza can be reached at mmendoza@sptimes.com or 860-7337.

[Last modified June 29, 2006, 23:35:00]