Deputies say man prohibited from owning firearms accidentally shot himself in the leg

A man who is legally not allowed to own a gun was arrested Tuesday morning after deputies say he accidentally shot himself in the leg.

Eric R. McGhee, 21, was booked into Spokane County Jail Tuesday morning and faces a charge of first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He was convicted in 2014 of felony assault and robbery.

At about 3:15 a.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in the 6900 block of East Second Avenue in Spokane Valley, where they found McGhee in the home’s basement with a gunshot wound to his lower leg, according to a news release.

Deputies were told McGhee accidentally shot himself in the leg, but when asked how he was injured, the 21-year-old said an “unknown person” came downstairs, shot him in the leg and then left with the gun, deputies said.

Deputies said they searched the area and found a pistol under a tarp on a picnic table in the backyard. According to the news release, “additional information received by deputies confirmed” that McGhee likely had shot himself in the leg.

McGhee was first transported to a local hospital before being taken to jail.