PHOENIX -- One accidentally-fired shot from a rifle, a passing tow truck and timing down to the half-second. Those factors unleashed a surreal chain of events on Monday that left one man dead and residents in a Phoenix neighborhood shaking their heads in disbelief.

A tow truck driver transporting a vehicle was shot and killed by a man cleaning his rifle inside his home, investigators said.

VIDEO: News Hawk 5 First At The Scene

The victim was identified as Cecil Pugh, 59.

"He's going be horribly missed," said Star Pugh, his wife.

"It's very hard to be here right now because he's not here," she said.

Fire officials said a 50-year-old man was cleaning the weapon in his trailer near North 29th Avenue and Deer Valley Road when the rifle discharged.

The bullet pierced through his blinds and window, shattered the windshield of the tow truck, and lodged in the left side of the passing driver's forehead, killing him instantly, fire officials said.

Pugh fell out of the cab as the vehicle continued moving down the road, fire officials said.

The gun owner ran outside, jumped in the truck and managed to bring the vehicle to a stop before hitting any houses.

The man then called 911. He told police he didn't realize the chamber was loaded.

"I just don't understand how you know enough to own a gun, to clean a gun, but you don't know there's a bullet in the gun," said Richard Conti, a neighbor.

Pugh was in the neighborhood where he had just picked up a car for transport, police said. He was in the process of driving out of the neighborhood when he was struck by the bullet, according to officers.

Homicide detectives said they are investigating the incident to see if any negligence is involved.

Phoenix police said there's a good chance they'll recommend the man who fired the rifle be charged with serious crimes.