An 18-year-old Gardnerville resident lost the tip of his left ring finger after a friend shot him with a .45-caliber handgun he thought was unloaded.

Andrew Vecchione was taken by Care Flight to Renown Medical Center in Reno following the incident Sept. 22 in the Gardnerville Ranchos sand pits.

He also suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg.

Officials said the shooting was accidental.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Vecchione, Scott Artman and Billy Scyphers, all 18, were shooting in the sand pits when the accident occurred.

Vecchione was sitting in the back of a Jeep when Artman approached the vehicle to put the weapon away. He told deputies he believed the gun was empty and he pulled the trigger, accidentally discharging the final round into the victim's leg.

The bullet passed through the right knee area and hit Vecchione's left hand which was under his leg.

The three attempted to stop the bleeding with a sweatshirt as Artman drove them to the Carson Valley Medical Center where Vecchione was stabilized and transported to Reno.

Artman said they had been shooting the handgun with a .22-caliber conversion barrel and switched to the .45 automatic.

Artman told deputies he was a novice shooter and didn't realize there was another round in the chamber when he pulled the trigger.