An employee at Wichita trash transfer station suffered a gunshot wound to his hand after he accidentally pulled the trigger of an apparently discarded pistol. Officials are investigating whether the gun was used in any crime, and if not then why it was thrown away.

According to Sedgwick County sheriff's Capt. Mike Oliver, the incident occurred Tuesday while the 42-year-old man was unloading the trash and hit the trigger of the mud-covered weapon that happened to be loaded.

Nearby people heard the boom and saw the man with blood on his hand, Oliver told the AP.

The man is reported to be recovering from the injury.