By Mark Schlachtenhaufen
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — An FBI special agent is recovering at a metro hospital after suffering an accidental gunshot wound while training at an Edmond Police Department facility, an agency spokesman said.
Rick Rains, a spokesman for the FBI’s Oklahoma City office, said at about 3 p.m. Thursday FBI agents were involved in a live fire tactical training exercise when the accident occurred. The Edmond Police Department’s training facility is located in northeast Edmond.
Rains said the agent was treated at the scene by FBI medical personnel who were part of the training. He was transported by medical helicopter to OU Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition, Rains said.
Next of kin had been notified, Rains said. The FBI was not releasing the agent’s name at this time.
When asked about the type of firearm that was involved Rains said he could not comment on that aspect at this time. At this point, Rains said, all he could say about the nature of the injury was that it was to the agent’s leg.
“We are going to be conducting a shooting investigation as we always do,” Rains said.
The investigation would determine how the agent suffered the gunshot wound, Rains said, and an FBI investigative team was at the site. FBI personnel always try to use best safety practices and sometimes accidents happen, he said.
Edmond Police Officer James Hamm said normal activity at the site includes annual qualifications for every weapon EPD personnel use, the in-house police academy and other general law enforcement training.
“It’s very common practice for other agencies to use our facility as well,” Hamm said.
There aren’t a lot of other general law enforcement training facilities in the Oklahoma City metro area, Hamm said. Whenever there is no conflict with the EPD’s training schedule other agencies are able to come and use the facility, he said.
Agencies are able to use assets including the EPD’s shooting simulator, its live shooting house and the live firing range, Hamm said. The EPD trains with handguns, shotguns and rifles at the site, Hamm said.
Copyright 2013 The Edmond Sun