TUALATIN, Ore. - A decorated Iraq war veteran accidentally shot and killed his wife while practicing drawing a pistol from a holster in the couple's Tualatin apartment Sunday night, police said.

Kimberly Lynn Osbrink, 23, was rushed to Oregon Health and Science University, where she was pronounced dead.

Tualatin police said it appears to be a horrible accident. 

According to police, 24-year-old Ryan Michael Osbrink called 911 to report the shooting at the couple's apartment at 6935 S.W. Nyberg St. about 10:30 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found the man giving his wife first-aid.

Ryan Osbrink told police he was drawing a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol from a holster when it accidentally fired as his wife entered the room, hitting her in the abdomen, police said.

The man was scheduled to start work as a deputy for the Clark County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday but that was put on hold pending results of the shooting investigation.

The Wilson High grad has apparently dreamed of becoming a police officer and member of a SWAT team for a long time and joined the Marine Corps as preparation for the job, according to an article in the Marine Corps News.

In 2006, he was awarded a Bronze Star for "courageous actions" in Iraq. In one instance, he left his vehicle while under fire to help an injured Iraqi soldier. In another case, he helped pull fellow Marines to safety after their vehicle caught fire and was heavily damaged from several improvised explosive devices, the article said.