Man Fatally Shoots Himself While Cleaning Gun in Hoffman Estates

The man was cleaning his gun at the Hawthorn Suites in Hoffman Estates when he shot himself in the abdomen, officials said

A 31-year-old man fatally shot himself while cleaning his gun Wednesday in a northwest suburban hotel.

James Smith-Woodward was cleaning his gun at the Hawthorn Suites in the 2800 block of Greens Point Parkway in Hoffman Estates when he shot himself once in the abdomen, according to Hoffman Estates police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Smith-Woodward, whose home address was listed in Clarksville, Tennessee, was able to call for help and was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy found he died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, but the manner of his death was not yet been determined, according to the medical examiner’s office. Police said the death appeared to be an accident.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
Contact Us