Apr. 19--POLKVILLE --Some mistook the chaos as just part of an exercise.
Officers from several departments were in their second day of training on Polkville Road, using an abandoned building to go through hostage situation exercises.
But yellow tape around the building Friday afternoon --while officers declined to comment --gave the indication that whatever had happened was far more real than some believed.
"They said they had an accident," said a man at the scene who identified himself as the property owner. "They said they were taking care of it."
The silence from officials was eventually broken with the announcement that, in the midst of the exercise coordinated by Cleveland Community College's Basic Law Enforcement Training program, an officer had been shot.
"We had one of our officers accidentally shoot another one of our officers," said Interim Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford.
A 13-year veteran of the Shelby Police Department, Detective Todd Vickery, was struck in the thigh after Officer Randy Conner pulled the trigger of what he thought was an "air soft" training gun.
"And it turned out to be the real thing," Ledford said.
A colored tip distinguished the training weapons from the real ones, according to police.
Emergency personnel responded to the building at 3916 Polkville Road at 3:29 p.m. Vickery was taken to Cleveland Regional Medical Center but was said to be OK at 5:15 p.m., Ledford said.
When contacted by phone Friday afternoon, Polkville Mayor Jack Shytle said he wasn't sure what had happened but said he was concerned when he saw paramedics returning to their station at Polkville Town Hall.
The sheriff's office is investigating the shooting since it happened within their jurisdiction. Attempts to contact the sheriff's office for comment Friday evening were unsuccessful.
Ledford said Conner was on administrative leave pending a Shelby Police internal investigation, which is standard procedure. He said Chaplain Glenn Davenport had already met with officers regarding the incident.
"Every resource that they need, we'll make sure they get it," Ledford said of Vickery, Conner and other officers close to the situation.
Off-duty officers were called Friday afternoon to let them know about the incident. No timetable has been set for Vickery's return, Ledford said.
"We're just thankful that the officer is OK," Ledford said.
Updated: 8:34 p.m.
Video from the scene earlier this afternoon has now been posted.
Updated: 6:53 p.m.
Shelby Police have identified the officer who fired the gun as Randy Conner.
Updated 6:36 p.m.
The identify of the officer who fired the shot during training is being withheld pending family notification. The emergency call came in at 3:29 p.m.
Update 6:20 p.m.
Det. Todd Vickery has been shot in the thigh, according to a press release from Shelby Police Department.
Vickery has been with the department since 1995.
Cleveland Community College coordinates the training.
updated 5:20 p.m.
Polkville Mayor Jack Shytle said he was concerned when he saw paramadics returning to their station at Polkville Town Hall.
The incident happened at an abandoned building.
Updated: 5:16 p.m.
"We had one of our officers accidentally shoot another one of our officers," said Interim Police Chief Jeff Ledford.
Ledford said one of the officers throught he had a training weapon.
"And it turned out to be the real thing."
The officer's identity is not being released, pending family notification, but is said to be OK. He suffered non-life threaning injuries.
"They tell us he's going to be fine."
Updated: 5:09 p.m.
Scanner traffic indicated earlier this afternoon that someone sustained a gunshot wound near the building.
Updated: 5:03 p.m.
The owner of the building at 3916 Polkville Road, where the officers previously were, said "They said they had an accident. They said they were taking care of it."
The man declined to give his name.
A law enforcement training session was previously planned to take place today in Polkville.
Updated: 4:52 p.m.
One Shelby officer and one deputy remain at the scene.
Updated: 4:37 p.m.
Capt. Alan Norman said it is a joint investigation between sheriff's deputies and Shelby Police but declined to comment further. Almost all the officers have left the scene.
Updated: 4:26 p.m.
A car with Florida tags was seen leaving the scene. Both Chief Deputy Danny Gordon and Capt. Alan Norman are at the scene, indicating a major situation.
Update: 4:17 p.m.
There are 16 Cleveland County Sheriff's Office vehicles at the scene and at least 12 deputies. Law enforcement is not commenting on what is happening. An officer was seen taking photographs.
Law enforcement has moved Thomas and Melton back further from the home.
Several calls have come in to The Star regarding several sheriff's deputies at a house in Polkville.
Reporter Kirsten Thomas and photographer Jeff Melton are at the scene, on Polkville Road. At least 10 sheriff's deputy cars and a crime scene investigation vehicle are near an old white woodframe house with tin roof. Officers are seen standing around outside and have just put police tape up around the home.
Visit shelbystar.com as more information becomes available.
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