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Toilet Shot To Pieces Remembered Fondly

The Associated Press

In this Jan. 13 file photo released by police shows a shattered toilet in the restroom a Carl's Jr. restaurant in Centerville, Utah.

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The Associated Press

Published: February 2, 2009

CENTERVILLE, Utah— - A toilet that was the victim of an accidental gunshot was remembered fondly during a memorial ceremony.

"John" may have been shattered by a bullet in a fast food restaurant bathroom, but he is not forgotten.

"He was survived by the men's urinal and wash sink," said Christian Martinez, manager of the Carl's Jr. where John was gunned down on Jan. 12. "He left us way too soon."

Martinez led a service on Friday at the restaurant. Employees gave bottles of Kaboom Bowl Blaster toilet cleaner, which Martinez said was John's favorite, to the first 50 restaurant patrons.

A Bountiful flower shop even delivered a large floral arrangement for the service.

"In all my years, I can say without a doubt that I have never delivered for a toilet," said deliveryman Doug Graham, "but I thought it was the funniest thing I've ever heard. I got a kick out of it."

The story was a national hit, although Martinez said there was nothing funny about it when he heard the gunshot in his men's room. Police say the gun fell out of its holster while the man pulled up his pants after using the bathroom. The gun fired when it hit the floor and shattered the commode.

A few shards of porcelain hit and cut the man's arm, but he was not seriously injured.

"It did get quite a bit of publicity," Martinez said. "We had some customers ask about it when they came in, but we didn't see a huge rise in business."

Police blamed the accident on the gun and style of holster the man was using.

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