Imagine you work security at a busy hospital. A threat appears and you draw your firearm to protect the building. Then during the chaos, you fire once. Recoil jerks the muzzle and a bystander suffers a wound.
The injured person might still sue you, but they cannot personally strip you of your gun rights. Only a criminal conviction can do that. And under Washington law, the court will take a close look at the decisions you made in those high-pressure seconds.
What prosecutors look at
The state separates shooting incidents into three main categories.
First, an intentional act means you deliberately fired at someone. If a bystander gets hit, you could still face assault charges—but if the person you aimed at was a genuine threat, self-defense laws often provide protection. Second, you can be charged with reckless conduct if you saw a risk but chose to ignore it. An example of this would be firing toward a crowded hallway. Prosecutors file these charges if they believe you chose to endanger everyone in the area. Third, criminal negligence means someone’s actions were a gross departure from basic safety standards—far more than an everyday mistake. It is the kind of extreme carelessness a reasonable person simply would not show. And under Washington law, if you are doing something lawful and an accident happens, that alone is not a crime.
If a person dies, the state considers manslaughter. With that, Washington law also offers protection through “ excusable homicide” if the death was truly accidental and happened while you were carrying lawful duties.
How can self-defense protect you
You may claim self-defense if you feared an immediate threat. If a jury finds you acted in self-defense, Washington law requires the state to pay for your lawyer and lost wages. Your training history matters because experts judge your ability to manage recoil. Specific details often drive the final decision to file charges:
- Your exact standing position and the area behind the target
- The speed of the scene and what you saw
- Any verbal commands or safer options you tried first
- Your history of following company safety rules
- Evidence from video and witnesses regarding the shot
These details help prove the shot came from a protective response.
What to do after the discharge happens
Call for medical help immediately after any shooting incident then report the event to your supervisor right away. Afterwards, seek a lawyer before you answer deep questions from the police. Stress distorts your memory during the first few hours. A lawyer helps you present a clear timeline of the event. They also help gather video evidence to explain your mission.
What you can expect
Washington can charge you after an accidental discharge under stress. It really comes down to whether the state can prove you acted with extreme—criminal—carelessness. Your defense will focus on what actually happened in the moment—and strong legal support can help show you acted to protect lives.