Child Accidentally Shoots SWAT Officer at California Book Fair
With the cop's own gun
What happens when you send a SWAT team to a book fair?
Police are investigating after an officer's gun was accidentally discharged by a child at August's Literacy Fair in downtown Lodi.
"This should have never happened, especially in an environment where children were present," Lodi Police Chief Mark Helms said.
On Aug. 24, SWAT Officer Robert Rench was displaying tactical equipment to children at the Lodi Public Library. A boy — around 6 to 8 years old — walked up behind Rench and pulled the trigger of his holstered handgun, say officials.
As a result, the bullet grazed the side of the officer's leg.
Here's a tip to the police chief on how to prevent something like this from happening again: stop sending your SWAT officers to book fairs. At the other end of the spectrum, an elementary school in nearby Hayward ran a toy gun buyback. Come on, California.
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