Convicted felon suspected of shooting himself in leg with stolen firearm

When police responded to a call that a child had shot himself Monday, they found an adult previously convicted of several felonies bleeding from his leg, according to a Spokane Police Department news release.

Around 5:40 p.m. near Wellesley Avenue and C Street, a caller phoned 911 to report a child had shot himself on the inside of his leg. A citizen tied a belt around the person’s leg to control the bleeding while another citizen took control of the handgun and waited for officers, according to the release.

When officers arrived, they discovered it was an adult, Eric D. Denny, 19, a convicted felon, who appeared to have shot himself. Medics began treatment there and transported Denny to an area hospital for a non-life threatening injury, the release said.

Officers learned the gun in Denny’s possession had been reported stolen in a Spokane County burglary from the area of 18400 East 4th Avenue, the release said.

Denny cannot legally possess firearms as a convicted felon and as a respondent on a no-contact order. Denny’s felony convictions are for possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, burglary, assault and robbery, according to the release.

After medical staff cleared Denny, he was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm.