[Valigator]

Shotgun Goes Off at Auction, Shooting Two

By Associated Press

May 12 2006, 7:54 AM EDT

BELLEVUE, Iowa -- An auction to benefit a family whose home burned down went off with a bang. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. Darrell Clasen and John Moellers were both shot when a 10-gauge shotgun accidentally discharged at the auction on Sunday.

Police said a 10-year-old boy put a shell in the gun, which was on a table of things to be auctioned. A man later picked up the gun and it discharged, police said.

Moellers was hit in the shoulder. Clasen was struck in the arm. Both men were taken to a the hospital where they were treated and released.

Clasen said he heard the gun go off.

"It was loud," he said. "I could see the smoke from the gun and then I felt it. It didn't hurt, but it was like a burning sensation."

Clasen said both he and Moellers were going to be OK. He said no one is holding a grudge.

"Everybody learned a lesson," he said.

There were about 200 people at the benefit and the boy apparently was able to put the shell in the gun unnoticed because of the noise of the crowd, police said.

The benefit was being held for a family whose home burned down last month.