Man who shot self in head still critical

SILVER CITY — A Silver City man accidentally shot himself last week and was flown to an El Paso hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

According to the Silver City Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of 40th Street on the report of a man with a gunshot wound to the head. Officer Leticia Lopez was first on scene and, as she exited her unit and opened up the gate to the home, she was attacked by a small dog who bit her in the left calf.

“A female came running out of the residence and she was covered in a red-colored substance that appeared to be blood on her hands, and neck area, yelling at me that her boyfriend was inside,” Lopez said in a written statement. “I entered the residence and observed a male subject lying on the couch with an open wound to the left side of his head.”

Randy Lier, 25, was transported by EMS to the hospital and later flown out to an El Paso trauma center.

Detectives obtained a search warrant and investigated the scene.

According to the police report, Lier was sitting on the couch holding a black pistol and talking with his girlfriend. The report said Lier often did this, playing with the gun and pulling the trigger, but normally the safety was on. The man was getting ready to pick up a friend to go to Walmart. Lier had the gun pointed toward the ceiling and, as he pulled the trigger, it went off.