Officer Sandmeyer and another officer drove to a pasture on his farm to do some practice target shooting with their department issued handguns and ammunition. They were shooting from inside the car towards the target. After each shot, Officer Sandmeyer pulled the gun in through the window to rest his arm. As he was putting the gun through the window for the fifth shot, it struck the ledge, turned in his hand, and discharged. The bullet struck him in the area of the ribs. The other officer drove Officer Sandmeyer to the Bemidji hospital, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.