Gun goes off in courthouse - El Paso Times
EL PASO -- Two federal law enforcement officers suffered minor gunshot wounds Monday inside El Paso's federal courthouse when one of their weapons fired accidentally, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
The names of the officers were not released but officials said the wounds were non-life-threatening and both were released after being treated at an area hospital.
Gerry Payan, supervisory deputy for the U.S. Marshals Service, said a marshals service deputy fired his weapon once, wounding himself and a U.S. Border Patrol agent about 10:45 a.m. on the third floor of the courthouse.
Officials said the shooting did not cause any problems at the courthouse and people walked in and out as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Some inside the courthouse asked reporters what was taking place.
The two officers were taken away in ambulances and were seen being taken out of the courthouse on stretchers, their faces covered.
Payan said he did not know of any other shootings inside the courthouse at 511 E. San Antonio. The public is not allowed to carry weapons inside the building, which has metal detectors and security officers at the entrances.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and FBI were conducting an investigation to determine how the shooting occurred.
"We have been asked by Marshals to conduct a standard shooting review," said Special Agent Andrea Simmons, a spokeswoman for the FBI. She said agents will help determine how the gun went off.
Payan said the incident is "being treated as a shooting, even though it was an accidental shooting."
Although Payan couldn't comment on the type of gun the deputy fired, he said deputies are typically issued Glock 40-caliber handguns. The handguns have the safety on the trigger, according to the Arms Site, a Web site about firearms.
Payan said the deputy will be held responsible for firing the handgun just as any other law enforcement official would in a similar situation.
EL PASO -- Two federal law enforcement officers suffered minor gunshot wounds Monday inside El Paso's federal courthouse when one of their weapons fired accidentally, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
The names of the officers were not released but officials said the wounds were non-life-threatening and both were released after being treated at an area hospital.
Gerry Payan, supervisory deputy for the U.S. Marshals Service, said a marshals service deputy fired his weapon once, wounding himself and a U.S. Border Patrol agent about 10:45 a.m. on the third floor of the courthouse.
Officials said the shooting did not cause any problems at the courthouse and people walked in and out as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Some inside the courthouse asked reporters what was taking place.
The two officers were taken away in ambulances and were seen being taken out of the courthouse on stretchers, their faces covered.
Payan said he did not know of any other shootings inside the courthouse at 511 E. San Antonio. The public is not allowed to carry weapons inside the building, which has metal detectors and security officers at the entrances.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and FBI were conducting an investigation to determine how the shooting occurred.
"We have been asked by Marshals to conduct a standard shooting review," said Special Agent Andrea Simmons, a spokeswoman for the FBI. She said agents will help determine how the gun went off.
Payan said the incident is "being treated as a shooting, even though it was an accidental shooting."
Although Payan couldn't comment on the type of gun the deputy fired, he said deputies are typically issued Glock 40-caliber handguns. The handguns have the safety on the trigger, according to the Arms Site, a Web site about firearms.
Payan said the deputy will be held responsible for firing the handgun just as any other law enforcement official would in a similar situation.