PACIFIC BEACH, Calif., Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy SEAL died of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head at a hospital Saturday in Southern California, Navy officials said.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Gene "Geno" Clayton Jr., 22, of Poland, Ohio, was mortally wounded about 2 a.m. Thursday, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
San Diego police said Clayton had been at a bar and returned to his apartment with a female companion, who he started showing several guns. Police said when she asked him to put them away, he assured her they were safe. He then put one pistol to his head and pulled the trigger, firing a round into his head, police said.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Frank Magallon said Clayton was taken off life support and died about 7:45 Saturday.
The Navy was investigating the incident, the Union-Tribune said.
Navy sources told the newspaper Clayton had joined the Navy in March 2010 and had just completed his SEAL training last month. He had just been assigned to a West Coast-based special warfare unit at the beginning of January.
