Soldier accidentally shot himself while resting chin on rifle during sniper training

The death of a soldier who accidentally shot himself in the head while on a sniper training course could have been avoided, a sheriff has said.

Lance Corporal Joe Spencer, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, stationed in Edinburgh, died from a fatal gunshot wound at the Air Weapons Range in Tain on November 1, 2016.

An inquiry into the 24-year-old’s death heard that he was standing in a shipping container while holding his rifle vertically, resting his chin on the suppressor fitted to the end of the rifle muzzle, when it fired unexpectedly.

Sheriff Gary Aitken ruled that the death could have been avoided if precautions had been taken but made no recommendations.

In his ruling, the sheriff said: “LCpl Spencer’s death serves as a powerful reminder to those involved in the handling of weapons and those involved in potentially risky activity of any sort that actions can have far reaching consequences.

“Care needs to be taken in relation to the small things and the routine tasks, not just the bigger picture.”

Before his death, LCpl Spencer had been moving the rifle up and down on his boot “very gently”, but it was impossible for him to manually operate the trigger of the rifle from this position.

The rifle discharged without warning.

Precautions that could have prevented the death include the supervision of the Army office during the unloading of his weapon, the correct use of command words for snipers to carry out the unload drill, following safety procedures, and LCpl Spencer not holding his rifle vertically and close to his body.

‘A much-loved son, brother and partner’

The inquiry heard that LCpl Spencer finished top of his class and was awarded a ceremonial rifle while completing his basic training at Catterick in 2011.

He was deployed to Afghanistan in April 2012 for a six-month tour and was seriously wounded when a grenade was thrown into a farm compound while he was on patrol.

He underwent extensive treatment and was able to return to operational fitness.

After taking part in a large-scale battlegroup exercise in Kenya, he received recognition as the best rifleman in his Company and, in 2015, was promoted to Lance Corporal.

LCpl made Scotland his home with his partner, and they bought their first house together in July 2016.

Sheriff Aitken said: “He was clearly a much-loved son, brother and partner and a very highly regarded soldier, both by his peers and his senior officers.

“It is clear from the evidence that I have heard that he was a young man of extraordinary determination and strength of character, committed to the service of others.

“He appears to have epitomised the regimental motto of the RIFLES – “Swift and Bold”.”