September 2, 2009


Shot fired during border patrol training

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is investigating the accidental discharge of a pistol during a class on international border protection.

The Associated Press
RICHLAND, Wash. —

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is investigating the accidental discharge of a pistol during a class on international border protection.

The class was being taught to 23 people from Tajikistan as part of a U.S. State Department program offered to help prevent smuggling of weapons of mass destruction. During one session, students were shown firearms and allowed to handle them to see how they might be concealed.

Laboratory spokeswoman Staci West says a .45-caliber pistol, believed to be empty, discharged when the student handled it Friday. The bullet ricocheted off a table, into a ceiling tile. No one was hurt.

West says the lab is investigating the incident to determine how best to prevent a recurrence.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com