WINDSOR – Bertie County Sheriff John Holley was slightly injured Sunday.

Sheriff Holley, who was off duty, was pumping gas when he returned a credit card to his pocket. When he removed his hand from his pocket, his service weapon fell out and discharged, with a fragment of the bullet lodging in his foot.

“It was an accident,” Sheriff Holley said. “We’re all human.”

Sheriff Holley said he went to the hospital where he was x-rayed and the fragment was removed, but that he was up and walking later Sunday afternoon.

He said no one else was around when the accident occurred and that his wife and son were inside the vehicle.

“I’ve carried a gun for 29 years and never had an accident like this,” he said. “It’s unfortunate and I hate that it happened, but accidents happen to everyone.”

The sheriff took Monday off, a rarity in his 29-year law enforcement career, but said it was precautionary.