A Macon man shot himself in the middle finger of his left hand early Sunday morning while handling his .40-caliber handgun, according to Macon police.

Dalton Taylor, 29, initially told police he was waiting on Cherry Street for a ride about 4:15 a.m. and accidentally shot himself while pulling a gun out of his car, according to a police report.

Police later talked to a manager at Fowl Play, 580 Cherry St., who said Taylor shot himself inside the restaurant.

Fowl Play’s owner, Brian Jones, said three men came into the business just before its 4 a.m. closing time and were looking at a gun while seated in a booth. The restaurant serves only food between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturdays.

A server told the men guns weren’t allowed. At some point, the gun went off in Taylor’s hand while he was handling it, Jones said.

Although Jones said “it was just a freak accident,” he said he plans to add additional security.