Now this incident wont win positive press for "assault weapons".
Jeff
AP News
5/26
Va. Town Riddled by Police Bullets
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) -- Police who were practicing at the wrong shooting range peppered a suburban neighborhood with submachine gun fire.
At least 12 homes and three vehicles were hit by the gunfire from nearly a mile away, according to authorities. No one was injured in the incident Monday.
One errant bullet narrowly missed a father and his 8-month-old daughter.
A weapons instructor for the District of Columbia police department took up to a dozen officers from several jurisdictions to the district-operated firing range on the grounds of the Lorton Correctional Complex.
The instructor mistakenly allowed the officers to fire submachine guns on a range meant for shotguns. Up to 15 of the 9 mm bullets whizzed into a nearby neighborhood, where they lodged in walls and cars or bounced off siding.
``Our preliminary investigation indicates officers were using a weapon on a range they shouldn´t have been on, and firing from a position they shouldn´t have been firing from,´´ said Terrance W. Gainer, Washington´s executive assistant police chief.
Gainer said the instructor -- identified as Henry Rorie, 49 -- improperly led the officers to the shotgun range when he discovered their scheduled range was already in use.
Gainer said the instructor used ``poor judgment´´ and the officers ``violated even the minimum safety standards.´´
Rorie, a 20-year police veteran, could not be reached today for comment. Police declined to let reporters speak to Rorie today, saying the matter is still under investigation. Rorie has an unlisted home telephone number.
Lori Hatton said one bullet crashed through her dining room window, narrowly missing her husband, an off-duty police officer who was holding one of their 8-month-old twin girls.
``It could have killed somebody,´´ she said. ``I just feel unsafe in my own house.´´
Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey has suspended all training at the range.
Jeff
AP News
5/26
Va. Town Riddled by Police Bullets
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) -- Police who were practicing at the wrong shooting range peppered a suburban neighborhood with submachine gun fire.
At least 12 homes and three vehicles were hit by the gunfire from nearly a mile away, according to authorities. No one was injured in the incident Monday.
One errant bullet narrowly missed a father and his 8-month-old daughter.
A weapons instructor for the District of Columbia police department took up to a dozen officers from several jurisdictions to the district-operated firing range on the grounds of the Lorton Correctional Complex.
The instructor mistakenly allowed the officers to fire submachine guns on a range meant for shotguns. Up to 15 of the 9 mm bullets whizzed into a nearby neighborhood, where they lodged in walls and cars or bounced off siding.
``Our preliminary investigation indicates officers were using a weapon on a range they shouldn´t have been on, and firing from a position they shouldn´t have been firing from,´´ said Terrance W. Gainer, Washington´s executive assistant police chief.
Gainer said the instructor -- identified as Henry Rorie, 49 -- improperly led the officers to the shotgun range when he discovered their scheduled range was already in use.
Gainer said the instructor used ``poor judgment´´ and the officers ``violated even the minimum safety standards.´´
Rorie, a 20-year police veteran, could not be reached today for comment. Police declined to let reporters speak to Rorie today, saying the matter is still under investigation. Rorie has an unlisted home telephone number.
Lori Hatton said one bullet crashed through her dining room window, narrowly missing her husband, an off-duty police officer who was holding one of their 8-month-old twin girls.
``It could have killed somebody,´´ she said. ``I just feel unsafe in my own house.´´
Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey has suspended all training at the range.
