Las Vegas police officer wounded at shooting range

Published Friday, July 31, 2009 | 12:26 p.m.

Updated Friday, July 31, 2009 | 3:35 p.m.

A Las Vegas Metro police officer sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound this morning while practicing shooting, according to a police spokesman.

The officer was practicing at the firing range located on the far end of East Carey Road when he was shot in the lower extremities and rushed to UMC, said Bill Cassel, Metro's public information officer. The officer, whose name has not been released, was an academy recruit.

Cassel said it was not yet clear whether the officer shot himself with the gun or if he was shot by another officer at the firing range.

Discussion: 23 comments so far…

By goingbust

7/31/09 at 12:38 p.m.

Suggest removal

"lower extermities"

Uninformed guess: Holster draw exercise went wrong.
By tvegas

7/31/09 at 12:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

Probably holding the gun backwards
By rejco100

7/31/09 at 12:50 p.m.

Comment removed by staff.
By robert_lv

7/31/09 at 12:57 p.m.

Suggest removal

I guess the training at the shooting range is more difficult than shooting unarmed fleeing suspects in the back or firing at little old ladies with kitchen knives.
By stevem

7/31/09 at 1:14 p.m.

Suggest removal

reno 911
By curbcrow

7/31/09 at 1:14 p.m.

Suggest removal

These Officers are in training to possibly save your life one day, accidents do happen to the best. If you want to put down the Police for the difficult job they do protecting us, the next time you have some armed burglar breaking into YOUR house or attempting to Rape your wife, daughter or mother. "Don't call 911, call a tweeker". See how much help you'll get.
By robert_lv

7/31/09 at 1:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

They didn't do to much protecting of the unarmed fleeing suspect they shot in the back. Nor the little old lady. Maybe they should spend some more time on the firing range instead of killing people who don't pose a threat.

I love it when someone criticizes the police and the first thing you hear is that maybe now they won't bother to come to your aid when you need it. Exactly the kind of attitude that bad cops have. Thankfully, most cops are pretty good at what they do.
By VegasBill

7/31/09 at 1:45 p.m.

Suggest removal

Why aren't you reporting the full story here. This idiot trainee shot himself in the knee. He obviously has never handled weapons before and should receive a dishonorable discharge immediately.
By fast_eddie

7/31/09 at 1:56 p.m.

Suggest removal

who is he going to sue for that OOPS????? metro?
By transitive

7/31/09 at 2:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

If someone is breaking into your house or attempting to rape your wife the police are just minutes away when all you have is seconds. Learn to defend your self with the best tool available which is a gun, and then train to use it.

As far as the officer goes accidents happen. Hopefully Metro will use this as a learning experience for all officers to reduce accidents in the future.
By Katie

7/31/09 at 3:07 p.m.

Suggest removal

Where do they recruit these people from? And what kind of training do they receive?

We know their driving skills leave something to be desired since they cannot control the car AND turn on the siren at the same time, but this.....
By rcknrllfreak

7/31/09 at 3:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

What goes around, comes around
By VegasGlocker

7/31/09 at 3:23 p.m.

Suggest removal

The sad thing is I know a couple police officers and I have had more training as a lowly citizen with my firearms. Of course I paid for it myself and took to the time to train. The police aren't really trained heavily with their firearms because it isn't PC to train cops to be "gunfighters". I think they should get a lot more gun training given some of the threats they face everyday. Not all bad guys can be tasered or pepper sprayed to keep them from harming officers or the public.

In the case of this cadet I'd wager that rule #1 was certainly broken... Don't ever put your finger on the trigger unless your trying to shoot whatever is in front of your weapon. I bet he won't forget now! I hope he recovers quickly and becomes a good and safe cop.
By DavidLv

7/31/09 at 3:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

From NRA Gun Safety:
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

How hard is that?

Sounds like Metro needs to hire a Fire Arms Safety Instructor and Driving Instructor.
By 15_min_of_fame

7/31/09 at 3:28 p.m.

Suggest removal

STOP!!! or I'll shoot myself
By nightmare

7/31/09 at 3:51 p.m.

Suggest removal

I was wondering what Plaxico Burress was doing these days.
By mred

7/31/09 at 4 p.m.

Suggest removal

He'll file a worker's comp case, did he have his "lights and siren on?"
By dollarbillz

7/31/09 at 5:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

Even Metro does'nt have a LEG to stand on anymore. Whats this town comming to. Ralph Lamb would have had that recruit shot for shooting himself.
By getalife

7/31/09 at 9:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

dollar and night, Couldn't have said it better
By Lenny_V

8/1/09 at 2:29 a.m.

Suggest removal

FN IDIOTS. Anybody involved needs to be fired immediately
By unemployed_legal_american_citi

8/1/09 at 1:15 p.m.

Suggest removal

AND THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO "PROTECT" US ???????
By travislv86

8/1/09 at 7:28 p.m.

Suggest removal

15,

Congrats, you just won the "Best line of 2009 Award", nice work!!!!! I'll laugh about that all night. And as a sidebar, I hope the guy is okay and has a speedy recovery.
By Scott

8/2/09 at 8:26 a.m.

Suggest removal

If the peabrains posting negative comments had any idea what the screening process for metro is I would be surprised.

Remember, it wasn't metro that had two officers shoot a woman with a knife, that was Henderson pd.

Even I thought an average right hand would have ended that one.