LA Bailiff Accidentally Fires Gun Inside Crowded Courtroom

VAN NUYS, CA — A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department bailiff accidentally fired a gun inside a packed Van Nuys Courtroom and potentially injured a colleague, the department confirmed Monday.

The Aug. 16 gunfire was first reported Saturday by Court Watch L.A., a volunteer court observation organization aimed at increasing transparency in the court system.

The organization reported the bailiff accidentally fired the gun "in the middle of the proceedings while many people were in the courtroom."

"The bullet ricocheted off a wall and hit another... deputy, striking the radio on his hip," Court Watch L.A. said in the statement. "The deputy was reportedly injured by shrapnel from the radio."

An sheriff's department spokesperson confirmed to the Los Angeles Times there was an active investigation into the "unintentional discharge," but did not offer further details and could not confirm if anyone was injured.

City News Service