Willits woman hurt during gun show at Frontier Days Parade

A Willits woman attending the city’s Frontier Days Parade on Saturday suffered a cut and bruising to her chest when she was struck by some type of projectile, officials said.

The incident occurred during a performance by the Black Bart Gunfighters in front of the Chase Bank parking lot, according to Willits police. Police are viewing video of the parade and interviewing members of the gunfighter group as well as others at the parade in order to determine what happened.

The Black Bart Gunfighters group is made up of actors who perform Wild West-themed comedy skits and promote gun safety while shooting blanks from their weapons. They also raise money for a high school scholarship fund.

The blanks are comprised of black powder and Styrofoam, said Elaine “Molly” Robinson, who has been performing with the group since the 1980s. But neither she nor her husband Al “Crusty” Robinson participated this year because they were not feeling well.

Crusty Robinson normally is the one who checks the weapons but another person performs that duty when he’s not there, his wife said.

The blanks are supposed to disintegrate upon firing, so there should be no projectiles, she said.

The victim was taken by private vehicle to the local hospital, treated and released, police said.

Police ask that anyone with video footage or information about the incident contact the department at 459-6122.