Giovanni Ruiz rested comfortably at home today with his children at his side, recovering from the self-inflicted gunshot wound he sustained Thursday, right in front of his two youngest children.
He is experienced in handling a firearm.
Ruiz says, "My mistake is because you know, I leave the gun in my pocket, when I'm not supposed to carry my gun in my pocket. That's my big mistake."
It happened inside the Reading Plaza Supermarket in the 600 block of Greenwich Street. Giovanni was checking out of a line when he reached into his pocket for money, and suddenly the 357-magnum he legally carries went off, hitting him in the right calf and exiting near his ankle.
His son, Jonathan Ruiz, was next to his father when the shot went off. He tells us, "When I heard the gunshot I didn't know what to think. And then my dad just fell to the floor."
The Honduran native has been in the U.S. for 19 years. Violence in his neighborhood prompts him to carry a weapon.
The children stayed home from school to help their father today, and to get over the trauma yesterday's events triggered.
Giovanni Ruiz, Jr. tells us, "I'm just glad it wasn't worse. And usually my brother and sister are always right next to him - always. They never leave his side."
"I'm very thankful he's OK," said Jonathan.
Reading police say the incident was an accident, and since Giovanni Ruiz is licensed to have a gun and to carry it, they are closing the book on the case.
