AR-15 style rifle fired while being relocated
Southards
Andrews – The assistant chief of police is recovering after accidentally shooting himself with an AR-15 style rifle Thursday evening outside the Andrews Police Department on Main Street.
Assistant chief David Southards received several stitches for the wound, according to Andrews Mayor James Reid, who called the incident an accident. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, which occurred about 7 p.m. outside the police station.
“We can confirm that on the evening of May 25, 2023, an officer with the Andrews PD was injured after his service weapon accidentally discharged,” Sheriff Dustin Smith said. “No criminal act took place. The officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries.”
Reid provided additional details. He said Southards was carrying a number of items, including the AR-15, to his patrol car when somehow the rifle discharged a round.
It is unclear why Southards was carrying a rifle with a round in the chamber. Smith said the investigation is ongoing, and details will be released once the report is filed.
Southards drove himself part of the way to seek medical treatment, with another officer driving the wounded officer the rest of the way to Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Peachtree 15 miles away.
Reid described Southards as a veteran officer who has been with the department for just under two years. According to his Facebook page, Southards is a Swain County resident who studied at Southwestern Community College and Western Carolina University, where he later worked for the WCU Police Department.