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CASTRO VALLEY — An 80-year-old man died Monday after his gun accidentally discharged while he was cleaning it.
Harry Bartolomei of Castro Valley was cleaning his .45-caliber pistol in the parking lot of the Anthony Chabot Gun Club, 9999 Redwood Road, when the gun inadvertently fired, said Lt. Dave Dubowy, an investigator for the East Bay Regional Park District police.
The incident was reported at 3:17 p.m. When Alameda County Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene, they found Bartolomei lying behind his parked pickup truck with a single gunshot wound to the head, Dubowy said.
Bartolomei was pronounced dead at the scene.
East Bay Parks Detective Sgt. Dale Davidson said his office has closed its investigation into Bartolomei's death because there was no evidence of criminal activity.
"We're satisfied at this point that it was purely an accident — an unfortunate accident," Davidson said. "There's no other reason to keep the case open. ... Based on everything we've learned, it was his hobby, and he went there to enjoy the afternoon."
A woman who identified herself as Bartolomei's wife declined to comment when approached by The Daily Review at her Castro Valley home. "We're not news, we're not news," she said.
However, the accident that led to Bartolomei's death underscores the need to use caution when handling firearms.
Harry Bartolomei of Castro Valley was cleaning his .45-caliber pistol in the parking lot of the Anthony Chabot Gun Club, 9999 Redwood Road, when the gun inadvertently fired, said Lt. Dave Dubowy, an investigator for the East Bay Regional Park District police.
The incident was reported at 3:17 p.m. When Alameda County Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene, they found Bartolomei lying behind his parked pickup truck with a single gunshot wound to the head, Dubowy said.
Bartolomei was pronounced dead at the scene.
East Bay Parks Detective Sgt. Dale Davidson said his office has closed its investigation into Bartolomei's death because there was no evidence of criminal activity.
"We're satisfied at this point that it was purely an accident — an unfortunate accident," Davidson said. "There's no other reason to keep the case open. ... Based on everything we've learned, it was his hobby, and he went there to enjoy the afternoon."
A woman who identified herself as Bartolomei's wife declined to comment when approached by The Daily Review at her Castro Valley home. "We're not news, we're not news," she said.
However, the accident that led to Bartolomei's death underscores the need to use caution when handling firearms.