Accidental shooting at wedding in Waldorf-Astoria hotel injures five

NEW YORK, June 14 (UPI) -- An accidental firearm discharge injured up to five people at a wedding ceremony in New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel on Saturday night, according to reports.

The pistol belonged to Vladimir Gotlibovsky, 42, who had it stored in his pocket. Police say it is unclear whether it went off before or after he dropped it.

The round ricocheted and grazed the head of a 55-year-old woman, who was not critically injured, according to police. Four others, including a 59-year-old man, a 37-year-old woman and a 45-year-old woman, also suffered injuries from fragments of glass and debris. Each was treated at local hospitals and released.

Police arrested Gotlibovsky on charges of tempering with physical evidence, reckless endangerment and assault with criminal negligence. His brother, Felix Gotlibovsky, 51, was likewise charged with criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence.

However, Patrick Muncie, spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, said prosecution of a case against the suspects has been "deferred while the investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the discharge of the firearm and its removal from the scene. The person believed to have discharged the weapon has a permit authorizing him to possess and carry it."