Columbia man gets federal jail time for gun possession after accidentally shooting himself
A Columbia man is headed to prison for 5 years after possessing a weapon during an incident where he accidentally shot himself.
According to a release from U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs’ office, Contaurus Dermont Smith, 46, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Smith to the 5 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of probation.
On June 30, 2023, Columbia Police Department officers responded to a shooting in the 900 block of House Street, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. When officers arrived, they found Smith lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the leg, authorities said.
Police department surveillance cameras captured the incident and showed Smith accidentally shooting himself in the leg, and showed another person go to the spot of the accidental shooting and pick up an item off the street and move it into a nearby house, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Police soon searched that home, and found 4 guns, including one with a conversion device on it that allowed it to function as a machine gun, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Authorities said Smith accepted responsibility for the gun with which he accidentally shot himself, and the court held him responsible for possession of the machine gun. Because of prior felony convictions, he had been barred from possessing a firearm.
