Beaten Ohio man is shot during self-defense lesson

[October 03, 2009]  GROVEPORT, Ohio (AP) -- An 80-year-old Ohio man is recovering from a week in which he was beaten during a home invasion and then shot while trying to learn about guns.

Ralph Needs says he wouldn't want anyone to experience what he's been through.

He was tied up and pistol-whipped when at least three intruders broke into his Columbus-area home Sept. 20. Needs' nose was broken and his pickup truck, a computer and credit cards were stolen.

Four days later, Needs was shot in the hand during a self-defense lesson. A 9 mm pistol went off as one of his sons was loading it.

Groveport police say it was an accident, so there will be no charges. No one has been arrested in the assault, but one person was charged in connection with the stolen computer, now recovered.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com

[Associated Press]

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