Man Shoots Woman In Morris Co. Pizza Parlor, Police Say

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Hunterdon County man has been arrested for shooting a woman in the leg in a North Jersey pizza shop, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said.

William H. Schmieding, 70, of White House Station, was arrested on Monday for accidentally shooting an 89-year-old woman in the leg with a handgun in a Flanders pizza parlor, police said.

On Monday, police and EMTs were called to Frank’s Pizza on Route 206 on a report of a gunshot victim.

Police found that a woman, 89, had been shot in her left leg. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and is in stable condition, according to officials.

An investigation revealed that Schmieding, who has a permit to carry a handgun, was eating at the pizza shop with friends when he decided to clear ammunition from his Smith and Wesson Bodyguard gun, according to authorities.

As he tried to clear ammunition from his handgun, it fired one shot, striking the woman, police said.

Schmieding was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, prohibited carrying of a firearm, and violating safe firearm carry requirements.

He was brought to the Morris County Correctional Facility to await court proceedings.

Officials said the shooting is still under investigation, and no additional information is available at this time.