1690136067 Weapons expert accidentally kills his wife while cleaning his gun

Weapons expert accidentally kills his wife while cleaning his gun

An Illinois firearms safety instructor has taken his own life after accidentally killing his wife while cleaning his gun, several US media reports.

Weapons expert accidentally kills his wife while cleaning his gun

Photo by Facebook/Simeon Hendrickson

Last Saturday, 61-year-old Simeon Hendrickson was tending to one of his guns at his home in Bolingbrook, a suburb of Chicago, when he accidentally shot and killed his 60-year-old wife, Laurie.

Weapons expert accidentally kills his wife while cleaning his gun

Photo by Facebook/Simeon Hendrickson

The 60-year-old then pointed the gun at himself, local police said. The 61-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife succumbed to her injuries in hospital.

Weapons expert accidentally kills his wife while cleaning his gun

Photo by Facebook/Simeon Hendrickson

Simeon Hendrickson was a firearms enthusiast and taught safe handling techniques to other enthusiasts.

Weapons expert accidentally kills his wife while cleaning his gun

Photo by Facebook/Simeon Hendrickson

The couple leaves behind three children and two grandchildren.

Weapons expert accidentally kills his wife while cleaning his gun

Photo by Facebook/Simeon Hendrickson

“You were loved and respected by many and not only were you the best parents anyone could wish for,” their son Derek wrote in a Facebook post.