MORGAN HILL, Calif. (KTVU) – Police in Morgan Hill are calling it a mistake, after a veteran officer accidentally fires his gun. The bullet ricocheted off the ground and a fragment injured a 14-year-old girl.
The chief said the girl’s prognosis is good. She’s recovering at home and has been released from the hospital. The chief knows it could have been worse. The officer is now on paid leave.
Morgan Hill Police Chief David Swing issued a rare apology Tuesday night after one of his officers accidentally fired his gun.
“We definitely apologize for the injuries that occurred but what’s important to understand, it was not an intentional act,” said Chief Swing.
It happened Sunday night, after police spotted a stolen van with three teenagers. A 16-year-old driver led police on a high-speed chase. The pursuit ended at the intersection of Del Monte and Llagas in Morgan Hill. The van crashed into a fire hydrant, taking out a light pole.
The officer accidentally discharged his gun. A bullet fragment struck the 14-year-old girl near her eye as she and a second passenger, a 15-year-old girl, exited the van.
“An officer was directing them to the ground and had his firearm pointed at the ground not at the girls and inadvertently discharged a round from his service weapon,” said Chief Swing.
The chief said the gun was not in its holster. The details as to how and why the gun went off are under investigation.
“The officer involved is remorseful for what happened,” said Chief Swing. “We certainly wish her a full and complete recovery as quickly as possible.”
“It sounded like nothing I had ever seen before or heard before,” said Rick McGlinn of Morgan Hill. “It was a thunder or boom.”
McGlinn heard the crash, describing a chaotic scene that unfolded fast for the officers on scene.
“Look at the situation she put herself in,” said McGlinn. “The police are trying to protect us and things like that don’t happen a lot around here.”
Police said the officer is a 23-year veteran. They are not releasing his name. The chief said Morgan Hill Police has not had an officer involved shooting in 15 years. They’re not releasing body camera video at this time.
Poster Comment:
The officer is now on paid leave.
Of course he is. However if the shooter was a regular civilian and not a badged "hero" - he'd be facing criminal charges.
But as we all know - if you're not cop, you're little people.
#1: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
True. But then again, regular civilians aren't involved in a high-speed chase involving three teens in a stolen car, either.
misterwhite posted on 2018-05-03 10:37:41 Reply Private Reply
#2: Deckard To: misterwhite (#1)
Yeah well, I suppose we can be thankful that he didn't just kill them all, being in "fear for his life" like these badged cowards usually are.
Deckard posted on 2018-05-03 10:42:54 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
The 16-year-old (male) driver has an outstanding parole violation warrant.
Overall, a nice bunch of kids. I mean, weren't we all on parole at 16?
misterwhite posted on 2018-05-03 10:54:49 Reply Private Reply
#4: Tooconservative To: Deckard (#0)
As for "paid vacation", it is routine police policy to give officers time off pending investigation. If they did something wrong in the shooting, you can't have them on the job, especially on the streets.
Your clickbaity title suggests that the cop might be shooting teens just so they can take the mistress on a Caribbean cruise or something.
The yellower a headline is, the more you like it.
Tooconservative posted on 2018-05-03 10:57:56 Reply Private Reply
#5: misterwhite To: Deckard (#2)
He would have been justified in doing so. From another article:
An officer eventually spotted the stolen vehicle and attempted to pull it over, but the driver refused to stop, according to police. When police tried to later stop the van by hitting it and causing it to spin out, the vehicle turned roughly 180 degrees, police said.
That's when police say the driver drove in the direction of officers and crashed into the fire hydrant and light pole.
misterwhite posted on 2018-05-03 10:58:01 Reply Private Reply
#6: misterwhite To: Tooconservative (#4)
Or he had a Glock. They seem to fire all the time for no reason.
misterwhite posted on 2018-05-03 10:59:28 Reply Private Reply
#7: misterwhite To: Deckard (#2)
misterwhite posted on 2018-05-03 11:26:33 Reply Private Reply