His gun went off inside a Racine store, and now, he's reached a plea deal

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee man, charged after his gun discharged inside the Burlington Coat Factory store in Racine has reached a plea deal in the case against him.

34-year-old Marvin Jackson faced a misdemeanor charge of endangering safety/use of a dangerous weapon.

Jackson pleaded no contest on Tuesday, September 22nd, and has been ordered to pay a fine.

Police say Jackson and a woman who was with him at the time of the incident turned themselves in on December 8th, 2013.

Police say one day prior, Jackson and the woman were shopping inside the Burlington Coat Factory store when Jackson took off his coat and handed it to the woman. At some point, police say a handgun fell out of the coat pocket, landed on the floor and a round was discharged.

Police say a metal fixture in the store was struck — but no one was injured.

Police say Jackson picked up the gun and both parties fled the store.

Images of the two were captured on surveillance video, and after Jackson and the woman saw their photos online, they turned themselves in to Racine police.

Jackson is a valid CCW permit holder. A criminal complaint in the case says Jackson told officials he has the weapon for protection because he is a bouncer at a nightclub in Milwaukee.

The complaint says Jackson told officials he has a holster that he typically keeps the weapon in, but on the morning of the Burlington Coat Factory incident, Jackson said he was in a hurry and just placed the weapon in his jacket pocket.

Jackson was charged because officials say he had a responsibility to secure his weapon in a safe fashion and his failure to do so caused the pistol to fall from his coat and discharge, according to the complaint.

The woman in this case was interviewed and released.

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