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A Bunnell man was transported to Halifax HealthHome Tuesday after shooting himself in the head. The man, Howard Berry, told deputies that he was “messing around with a gun” before it fired, according to an incident report.

Berry’s wife called 911 just after 8 p.m. to report the incident. Deputies responded and spoke to Paulette Berry outside her residence. Inside, they could see the silhouette of a person pacing from the front door to the back end of the home. A deputy instructed the person to exit the residence.

A man, later identified as Howard Berry, appeared. He was shirtless, with blood covering his chest, hands and head, according to the report. As he walked forward, he struggled to maintain his balance.

Howard Berry told deputies he accidentally shot himself near his right temple. Deputies had difficulty determining the extent of the injury because of the blood that was matted in his long hair, the report says.

Deputies asked Howard Berry where his .380-caliber gun was, but he told them he hid it and refused to reveal its location. He also refused to demonstrate to deputies how he was holding the gun when it went off.

At that point, paramedics arrived and transported Howard Berry to Halifax Hospital for treatment.

Paulette Berry said she and her husband had an argument in their home before she went to her room. Shortly after, Howard Berry approached her and said, “Baby, baby, I’m bleeding.”

At first, she thought it was a joke, and that the blood on her husband was ketchup. But when she tried to wipe some off his chest, she realized he wasn’t joking.

Paulette Berry said she never heard a gun discharge.

The scene was turned over to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Service Division.

 

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