Officer Shoots Colleague In 'Horseplay' Incident Caught On Video

PASADENA, CA — A Pasadena police officer shot and seriously wounded a fellow officer during what Police Chief Gene Harris described as "unsafe, out-of-policy horseplay" inside the department's parking garage last year.

Harris made the comments in a video released Wednesday, which also includes dashcam footage from the Sept. 7, 2025, incident.

The video shows a patrol vehicle entering the garage behind two uniformed officers standing near the rear of a police SUV. As the cruiser approaches, one of the officers removes his handgun from its holster and points it toward the incoming police vehicle before putting the weapon away several seconds later.

The footage does not show what happened inside the patrol car, but Harris said the officer behind the wheel then drew his department-issued handgun and pointed it toward the other officer. During the interaction, the firearm discharged.

The round traveled through the patrol vehicle's windshield and struck one of the officers in the shoulder, Harris said.

Moments later, the video shows the wounded officer clutching his shoulder and moving away from the SUV as other officers rush over to assist him. Responding officers helped him to the ground and rendered aid.

The injured officer suffered serious injuries but has since recovered, Harris said.

The shooting occurred nearly 10 months ago, but the footage was not released within the 45-day window generally required under California law for police shootings and other critical incidents involving serious bodily injury.

In a video statement posted by the city, Harris said he invoked an exception in state law that allows agencies to delay public release of footage during an active investigation.

"The delay was necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation and allow investigators to complete essential investigative steps," Harris said.

Harris identified the officer who fired the shot as Roy Alatorre, who has since "separated from the city."

The chief also said the Pasadena Police Department completed a criminal investigation and submitted it for review to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office while notifying California's Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

However, the District Attorney's Office told the Los Angeles Times that it had not received a report from Pasadena police as of Thursday.

Alatorre did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the Times reported.