Sheriff's Deputy Accidentally Shot By Federal Agent, Authorities Say

LEMON GROVE, CA — A San Diego County sheriff's deputy was shot in the leg Monday at the sheriff's Lemon Grove Substation when a federal agent reportedly accidentally discharged a .22-caliber handgun, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.

The shooting occurred at 5:30 p.m. when a joint task force returned to the station after serving a search warrant in East County, according to Spokeswoman Jan Caldwell. Members of the task force were unloading evidence — including the handgun — seized during the warrant service, she said.

"While unloading and attempting to render safe a seized .22 handgun, a federal agent assigned to the task force, was manipulating the weapon and accidentally fired a round, which hit the sheriff's deputy in the lower leg," Caldwell said.

The deputy was transported to a local hospital for treatment of the non-life-threatening injury and is expected to completely recover, she said.

The names of the injured deputy and the federal agent were not immediately disclosed.

San Diego County Sheriff's Department detectives are investigating the incident, Caldwell said.