LINN  — Osage County Sheriff Mike Bonham is investigating an accidental shooting during a Community Christian Church service at about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

“There’s no doubt it was an unintentional discharge, and thankfully, no one was killed,” said Bonham. “Everyone is cooperating with the investigation. There was no malicious intent, but because of how the statutes read, we have to investigate every aspect.”

Bonham noted that his initial interviews indicated that a 75-year-old man’s concealed weapon fell out of his holster. “It discharged when it hit the floor, and the bullet hit an elderly woman in the row behind him,” he added, noting the woman is 72. “After the bullet struck her in the knee, it traveled up through the ceiling.”

Though concealed weapons are permitted in many places, state statute 571.107 (14) prohibits bringing them to “any church or other place of religious worship without the consent of the minister or person or persons representing the religious organization that exercises control over the place of religious worship. Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on the premises shall not be a criminal offense so long as the firearm is not removed from the vehicle or brandished while the vehicle is on the premises.”

Prosecuting Attorney Amanda Grellner said she is uncertain at this stage of the investigation whether the matter will be submitted for criminal prosecution.

Osage Ambulance District personnel transported the injured woman to an area hospital. Neither she nor the man whose weapon discharged were named by authorities.