EL PASO, Texas -- Two law enforcement officials suffered gunshot wounds Monday after one of their weapons accidentally discharged at the El Paso Federal Courthouse, U.S. Marshals Service in El Paso officials said.
A U.S. Marshals' deputy discharged his weapon, fired one bullet, and injured himself and a Border Patrol agent in the federal courthouse at about 10:45 a.m. Monday, said Gerry Payan, supervisory deputy for the U.S. Marshals Service in El Paso.
Both law enforcement officials, whose names were not released, were taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. They were both released a short time after, Payan said. No one else was injured, he said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents were conducting an investigation Monday afternoon to determine how the shooting happened.
"We have been asked by Marshals to conduct a standard shooting review," said Special Agent Andrea Simmons, of the FBI. She said shooting review expert agents will help determine how the gun went off.
The shooting took place in the hallway of the 3rd floor inside the El Paso Federal Courthouse located at 511 E. San Antonio, Payan said.
"It is being treated as a shooting, even though it was an accidental shooting," he said.
Although Payan couldn't comment on the type of gun the U.S. Marshals' deputy fired, he said deputies are typically issued Glocks 40-caliber handguns. The handguns have the safety on the trigger, according to The Arms Site, a Web site about firearms.
Payan said law enforcement officials are supposed to secure their weapons before escorting prisoners into the federal courthouse building. He said the U.S. Marshals' deputy will be held responsible for firing the handgun, just as any other law enforcement official would in a similar situation.