Longview city attorney won’t return gun to owner

Published 2:14 pm Friday, April 6, 2012

LONGVIEW — The Longview city attorney refuses to return a gun to its owner after an accidental shooting.

City attorney Steve Shuman told The Daily News the gun should be forfeited because it was involved in a crime.

The brother of the owner dropped the 9mm Glock last October in an apartment. The gun fired a bullet into the apartment below where a girl was hit by the spent bullet or debris but not injured. The brother admitted he would be found guilty of unlawfully discharging a firearm.

The gun owner is former Kelso reserve police Officer Kirk Turya. He was not involved in the accident and does not have a criminal record. He says there’s no reason for the city to keep his gun.

A hearing is scheduled Wednesday.