OTHELLO — An Othello man died Wednesday when he was hit with an accidental discharge from a BB-gun-pellet-style firearm. Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said that even though they may not be considered weapons, they should be handled like any other firearm. 

“All the firearms safety rules apply. It's a firearm. It throws a projectile,” Wagner said. 

Geovanni Malacara-Hernandez, 33, was wounded in the incident in the 1100 block of South Schaake Road, about seven miles south of Othello.  

“Initial information indicated that an adult male had sustained a neck injury involving a pellet/BB gun in what is believed to have been an accidental discharge involving a young child,” Wagner wrote in a press release. 

Sheriff’s deputies administered first aid and were joined by personnel from the Othello Ambulance and Adams County Fire District 5. Malacara-Hernandez was transported to Othello Community Hospital, where he died. 

Air pistols and BB guns should be treated with the same caution as any other firearm, according to information from the National Rifle Association. While they don’t have an explosive charge, they fire projectiles at a pretty high velocity, Wagner said.  

Wagner is a hunting safety instructor and said there are four basic rules that apply to all firearms.  

“Firearms are always loaded,” he said.  

They should be treated like they are, even if people handling them are sure they’re not. People should keep fingers off the trigger until they’re ready to shoot, and a firearm should not be pointed at anything unless the shooter is willing to destroy it. People handling firearms of any kind must be aware of the area in front of and behind them. 

And Wagner added, “Always watch your muzzle.” 

Washington law restricts the purchase of BB and pellet guns to people 18 years of age and older, according to the LegalClarity website.