ORLANDO, Fla. -- A federal drug agent shot himself in the leg during a gun safety presentation to children and his bosses are investigating.
The Drug Enforcement Administration agent, whose name was not released, was giving a gun safety presentation to about 50 adults and students organized by the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association, witnesses and police said.
He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. Then he pulled back the slide and asked someone in the audience to look inside the gun and confirm it wasn't loaded, the report said.
Witnesses said the gun was pointed at the floor and when he released the slide, one shot fired into the top of his left thigh.
"The kids screamed and started to cry," said Vivian Farmer, who attended the presentation with her 13-year-old nephew.
"Everyone was pretty shaken up," Farmer said. "But the point of gun safety hit home. Unfortunately, the agent had to get shot. But after seeing that, my nephew doesn't want to have anything to do with guns."
The agent was treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center after the April 9 shooting and returned to work, DEA special agent Joe Kilmer said.
Police ruled the shooting was an accident, but the DEA headquarters in Washington was still investigating, Kilmer said.
Where is Darwin when we need him
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I don't understand how this could've happened. Unless the round was wedged in the magazine well, how could he have shot himself? Even if he dropped the mag, pulled the slide back, and a cartridge was still there, would it fire without pulling the trigger? It justs seems like this was a one-in-a-million occurence. We'll probably never see that DEA investigation report.
Shoulda , coulda , woulda , but didnt. I'm sure he got his safety point across though
True enough. I guess I'm just trying to comprehend wth he did wrong. Who knows, maybe the reporter didn't get a completely accurate account of the incident.
DEA Agent Shoots Self During Gun Safety Class
Oh great.....
