Sept. 11--Reading police detectives are investigating an accidental shooting that wounded a Berks County deputy sheriff Monday morning in a courthouse office.
Police said Deputy John Parsons suffered a leg wound in the accident, which happened about 9:45 in the sheriff's warrants division office on the 17th floor.
Parsons was rushed to Reading Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, officials said.
He was listed in fair condition late Monday, according to a nursing supervisor at the hospital.
City police were asked to investigate to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
City Police Chief William M. Heim said the accident happened during a training exercise, but investigators did not say who else was involved.
Heim said the training exercise involved guns that were supposed to be unloaded.
The gun that discharged had been unloaded before the exercise, but for some reason was loaded during the exercise, Heim said.
The reason for the gun being loaded is under investigation.
Sheriff Eric J. Weaknecht said Parsons and another deputy were in the warrants division office when Parsons' holstered service pistol discharged, wounding him in the leg.
"We're not sure, but it sounds like the weapon or the holster malfunctioned," Weaknecht said.
He said he did not know if the deputies were sitting or standing when the gun went off.
In a prepared statement Weaknecht released later in the day he said the training exercise involved determining if a new department-issued holster was susceptible to a suspect reaching inside the holster and pulling the trigger.
"The objective of the training exercise was to prevent a scenario such as this from happening," Weaknecht said. "During the training process, another sheriff's deputy was able to reach over and grab Deputy Parson's weapon, at which time Deputy Parson's gun accidentally discharged.
"Both deputies unloaded their weapons prior to the training exercise, a department requirement."
Both Parsons and the other deputy involved in the accident are certified firearms instructors, Weaknecht said.
It was unclear why they were conducting the training on one of the top floors of the courthouse while hundreds of county employees and civilians were in the building going about their everyday business.
Heim said the incident shows the dangers of guns.
"Even with trained professionals there is sometimes a lapse of concentration," he said.
Contact Jason A. Kahl: 610-371-5024 or [email protected]
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