Gun Goes Off in Man’s Waistband; 2 Charged

WILDWOOD CREST – A Pennsylvania man and woman were charged with weapons and other violations after a handgun tucked in the man’s waistband went off.
Wildwood Crest Police Department officers responded to the report of a gunshot victim at a motel in Wildwood Crest around 4:14 p.m. May 18. Officers arrived and located Alexander Wiederhold, 30, with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Officers determined that Wiederhold was carrying a handgun registered to Sabrina Sweed, 29, who was with him at the time. Wiederhold had the handgun tucked in his waistband while carrying bags into his motel room when the handgun fired, injuring his leg. Wiederhold was walking next to a 6-year-old child at the time the handgun was discharged.
Medical assistance was rendered on the scene and Wiederhold was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City Campus.
Police said the handgun was registered to Sweed and contained a high-capacity magazine and hollow-point ammunition. Neither Sweed nor Wiederhold, both of Frockville, Pennsylvania, possessed a concealed carry permit.
Wiederhold was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, fourth-degree possession of high-capacity magazine, and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point bullets. Wiederhold was placed on a warrant and lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Facility.
Sweed was charged with fourth-degree possession of a high-capacity magazine and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point bullets. Sweed was released on a summons in accordance with bail reform procedures.
The incident was investigated by Police Officer Tyler Lavender and Cpl. Lorenzo Plaza of the Wildwood Crest Police Detective Division.