An off-duty Omaha police officer was wounded Monday morning in what's being called an "accidental shooting" northeast of Bennington.

An official source said Officer Ben Weidner went to a farm near North 156th Street and Pawnee Road where he routinely goes, with the property owner's permission, to dump yard waste.

Weidner showed up earlier than usual, just before 10 a.m. Jerry Byrnes, 70, had been cleaning a handgun when he unexpectedly encountered Weidner at his door. Byrnes was startled and reacted by squeezing the handgun and trigger. A shot was fired and struck Weidner in the abdomen.

Byrnes believed the gun to be unloaded at the time he was cleaning the exterior frame.

Weidner's mother, who is the nurse, was with him at the time and provided medical attention before he was taken to Nebraska Medicine in stable condition. Douglas County Sheriff's officials said Weidner underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

Douglas County Sheriff Investigators have interviewed Weidner, Byrnes and a witness at the scene. They said Byrnes and Weidner know each other and are on good terms. The shooting has been determined to be accidental. No criminal charges are expected.

