UPDATE: Man Who Accidentally Donated Gun to Goodwill: 'Pure Panic'

Updated: 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 7.

The weapon has been found. See: Man Finds Missing ‘Goodwill Gun’

Update: 11:55 a.m., Friday, Feb. 1

Bryan Kendall, the man who told police he may have accidentally left a gun in with recent donations to Goodwill, said it was “probably the most irresponsible thing I’ve ever done.”

“Pure panic,” he said.

Kendall, of River Falls, Wis., said he had the pistol tucked away in a closet with some items he donated to Goodwill on Jan. 26. He didn’t notice the .22-calliber Smith & Wesson was missing until later, when he went to collect his other weapons for safe storage before a trip.

He contacted police about the missing handgun, and was worried he might be in trouble with the law, and was also concerned for the safety of the Goodwill employee who came across it.

“Just a terrible feeling,” Kendall said.

Goodwill officials earlier this week told Patch they had not found the gun. Woodbury police were notified of the possibility that a gun had been donated to Goodwill from their counterparts in Wisconsin.

Kendall said he had a number of donations to make, and he and his wife dropped off items at the Woodbury and Hudson, Wis., locations to distribute the goods.

He said he was planning to follow up with Goodwill and law enforcement officials. Kendall said people should always double check the belongings they plan to donate.

“Unfortunately, it’s now missing,” he said. “To think that a few extra seconds could have made a difference.”

Original story (5:07 p.m., Jan. 30, 2013)

Goodwill officials say they have not come across a gun a Wisconsin man believes he accidentally donated to the organization a few days ago.

The River Falls, Wis., man told authorities he made donations to both the Woodbury and Hudson, Wis., locations on Saturday, Jan. 26, but forgot to remove a loaded .22-calliber Smith & Wesson pistol that was placed between two pairs of Dockers pants, according to a report from the Hudson Police Department.

He told police the handgun would have been in a bag from Dick's Fresh Market, Fleet Farm or Target, and he was planning to file a report for the missing weapon.

Lisa Ritter, director of marketing for Goodwill, told Patch on Wednesday that she hadn’t heard of a gun being found with donations at either location.

The Woodbury Police Department was notified of the possibility that a pistol had been donated to the Woodbury Goodwill, said Michelle Okada, police spokeswoman.

Hudson Patch editor Micheal Foley contributed to this report.

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