A man who accidentally shot himself while showing off a gun to a car full of friends died early Friday.

The man was riding in a car with three females when he started playing with a gun in his coat pocket, said Salt Lake Police Lt. Melody Gray.

Moments later, the three others in the car heard a "pop" followed by the man saying, "I've been shot."

The man had shot himself in the thigh, striking the femoral artery. The others in the car drove to their apartment near 800 West and 700 North to call 911. But Gray said by that time it was too late.

"He was probably dead by the time he got here," she said.

The gun used was a .22-caliber pistol. The name of the man, reportedly in his early 20s, was not released Friday.

Gray said the death incident should serve as a reminder not to play with guns.

"The first rule of firearms is that all guns are always loaded," she said.