Milwaukee man dies after accidentally shooting himself in the thigh

MILWAUKEE -- A 22-year-old Milwaukee man died during surgery at Froedtert Hospital after he shot himself in the thigh Friday morning, August 21st.

Timothy Phonisay was pronounced dead around 1 a.m. Officials say he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh in his home near 44th and Keefe.

According to the Medical Examiner's report,  Phonisay was apparently posing with a handgun and when he went to holster it, a round was fired and entered his right groin area.

Phonisay sustained two penetrating wounds to the right thigh. There was no bullet recovered or found on x-ray, according to the Medical Examiner's report.

Authorities say Phonisay developed respiratory distress during surgery, at which time blood was found in the chest. A right-sided thoracotomy was performed and a significant amount of blood was removed through a chest tube.  Doctors were unclear where this blood came from, as no other injuries were identified.

The Medical Examiner's report states that Phonisay's cardiac status declined and staff was unable to keep up with the amount of blood loss. Phonisay was pronounced dead just before 1 a.m.  His death was ruled an accident.

Milwaukee police were on scene investigating.