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Court Officer Accidentally Shoots Himself in Court

By Anton K. Nilsson | September 23, 2015 7:26pm
 No one was seriously hurt when a court officer's gun went inside New York Civil Court on Wednesday.
No one was seriously hurt when a court officer's gun went inside New York Civil Court on Wednesday.
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CHINATOWN - A court officer accidentally discharged his gun inside a courtroom at the New York Civil Court on Wednesday, striking himself in the hand, New York State Court Officers Associates President Dennis W. Quirk told DNAinfo New York.

The gun went off when Officer Leonard — a court officer who has been with the force for more than 25 years — was holding it to inspect it, Quirk said.

The officer was sent to a downtown hospital for treatment, although the bullet "didn't go through the hand," according to Quirk. The injury was "superficial" and he was released the same day.

Leonard is expected to be back at work later in the week, Quirk said.

It was unclear Wednesday if other people were also present in the courtroom when the gun went off. No one else was reportedly injured.

Leonard "is a veteran and senior officer, who's never been in trouble, an excellent officer," Quirk said.

According to Quirk, the gun involved in the accident was manufactured by Glock.

"With the Glock sometimes people forget they put a bullet in the chamber," said Quirk. "You can drop a Glock on the floor and it will go off."