3-D printed gun used in Wednesday shooting, police said

Printing, pointing and pulling the trigger of a 3-D printed gun, ultimately shooting a man, led to a Lawton man’s arrest, according to police.

Matthew Ray Palmer, 38, made his initial appearance Friday in Comanche County District Court where he was charged with a felony count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, records indicate. The crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Lawton Police Sgt. Colin Book was called around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday to 1709 SW 14th to a shooting report. He arrived to find one man being taken to an ambulance for treatment for a gunshot wound to the shoulder; bullet fragments were later removed from the wound, the probable cause affidavit states. Palmer was identified as the shooter and was detained, Book stated.

Palmer initially said he’d fired a pellet rifle unintentionally; however, witnesses described the gun as small and similar to a revolver, the affidavit states. He later admitted to using a 3-D printer to make a gun that shoots .22 caliber, according to Book. He took officers to an adjacent backyard to recover the pistol where he’d hidden it.

Without being asked, Palmer told police he’d pressed the gun to the man’s shoulder and fired because he’d pushed Palmer’s sister, according to the affidavit. The woman had no injuries and declined medical attention, Book stated.

The injured man said he didn’t assault the woman, that he was trying to get passed her when she blocked a doorway, the affidavit states.

It was learned Palmer had a felony conviction in 2001 out of Texas for unlawful carrying of a firearm when he was 16, according to Book.

Free on $10,000 bond with the stipulation he have no contact with the wounded man, Palmer returns to court at 3:30 p.m. July 16 for his preliminary hearing conference, records indicate.