Personal Protection Institute

Updated 11:29 am, Thursday, December 17, 2015
MODESTO, Calif. –
In an account in the Modesto Bee, Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves explained what happened during the Dec. 5 incident at the Personal Protection Institute:
Instructor Phillip Rushing had been using a fake rubber training gun during the class, but near the end, he swapped it for a real handgun, placing the latter in his holster.
About that time, a student asked Rushing to demonstrate how to respond to someone attacking with a knife. The pastor, Tom Smith, volunteered to play the role of the assailant.
«During the scenario, the instructor drew the firearm and it accidentally discharged,» Graves said. «When it fired and he realized what happened, he immediately dialed 911.»
Dan Gray, owner of and firearms instructor at Trident Firearms Academy in Modesto, told the Bee that regardless of whether Rushing knew that he had pulled a real handgun, actual firearms should never be used in a classroom.
«You never allow a real gun, loaded or otherwise, in a training environment when role playing,» Gray said. «
Police have not charged Rushing with any crime, but the incident remains under investigation.
Classes at the institute have been suspended until further notice.