Police: Woman shot as husband worked on gun
Troopers haven’t said if charges will be filed
Eric Rosenbrock was performing maintenance on his gun when it discharged a round that struck and killed his wife, State Police said Saturday.
Police said the results of the autopsy on Ashley Rosenbrock, 34, were consistent with evidence at the scene and what they learned during the investigation.
Eric Rosenbrock was working on the handgun, which he legally owns, sometime around 10:30 p.m. Thursday when the round discharged at their 7 Raymond St. home in the village, troopers said.
His wife was taken to Saratoga Hospital and later pronounced dead from the injury, troopers said
A forensic autopsy was conducted at the hospital by Dr. Michael Sikirica on Saturday.
Eric Rosenbrock is a science teacher and coach at Lake George Central School.
Neighbors said the family includes three children and a live-in grandmother. They were building an addition to their house so they could have another bedroom, one for each of their children, two girls and one boy.
The investigation is continuing with the assistance of the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office. Police did not say whether any charges would be filed.
Firearms groups offer several warnings about safely handling and maintaining guns, including always pointing the muzzle in a safe direction and making sure firearms are unloaded when not in use.
“Whenever you handle a firearm or hand it to someone, always open the action immediately, and visually check the chamber, receiver and magazine to be certain they do not contain any ammunition. Always keep actions open when not in use. Never assume a gun is unloaded,” according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
USA Carry warns never to clean a gun with someone else in the room and avoid music, television and other distractions.
Though the Corinth investigation isn’t completed, instances of unintentional firearms deaths are relatively rare. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said 204 people were killed in 2015 in 27 states participating in a reporting system, including New York.
That occurred mostly in a home or apartment, with the most common firearm being a handgun. Cleaning a gun accounted for about 10 percent of those deaths.