Gun cleaning accident in Tunkhannock

I read the following in the morning paper today and cringed:

TUNKHANNOCK TWP. — State police at Towanda reported a 24-year-old Tunkhannock man accidentally shot himself while preparing to clean a Springfield Armory XD 9 mm semi-automatic pistol around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday. The gun discharged and the round struck the man in the left lower thumb, exited his wrist area and reentered his lower forearm before exiting again approximately three inches farther down the forearm, state police. No further details were available.

I'm guessing the guy was a newbie to semi-autos or just plain irresponsible.