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SALT LAKE CITY — An officer was taken to a hospital Saturday morning after accidentally discharging his gun and injuring himself during a shooting investigation, police said.
The accidental self-inflicted shooting happened after a brief pursuit of a suspicious vehicle ended in that vehicle crashing into another near 1300 N. Mandalay Road and the suspect left the vehicle on foot, according to Salt Lake police Lt. Mike Ross.
The officer, whose name was not released, was apparently holding a rifle while officers held containment when it somehow discharged and struck him in the foot.
He was taken to a local hospital and is expected to recover, Ross said.
“He’s going to be OK,” Ross said.
The series of events leading up to the accidental shooting began at around 4:30 a.m. when officers responded to a report of shots fired near 500 S. Wright Circle (1600 West). Responding officers found several shell casings but nobody was injured at the location, according to Ross.
The officers were, however, given a description of a vehicle possibly linked to the shots fired and that vehicle was spotted by officers near 1300 N. Redwood Road, Ross said.
Ross said the driver of the vehicle fled from officers and a brief pursuit ended after the fleeing vehicle struck another vehicle near 1300 N. Mandalay Road.
The suspect ran from the vehicle and officers formed a perimeter to contain the suspect. Ross said it was during that time the officer accidentally shot himself.
The individual believed to be in the car was later tracked down at a home. Ross said he is currently being questioned in the case, but no arrests have been made.
Ross said the case is still under investigation. No other injuries were reported.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Contributing: Brian West
