An inmate at Los Angeles County’s Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic was grazed by a stray bullet fired from a nearby shooting range, sheriff’s officials said Friday.
According to the sheriff’s department, the unnamed inmate was “grazed by a ricocheted bullet” and notified jail personnel on Aug. 9. The inmate was given a medical evaluation and an injury report was completed, sheriff’s officials said.
“It was discovered that several vehicles were also struck by bullets and that prompted personnel to notify Major Crimes Bureau, the Sheriff’s Crime Lab, and Weapons Training Unit to initiate an investigation,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s department. “Investigators learned that the errant bullets originated from the range utilized by the FBI.
“Sheriff’s personnel and the FBI debriefed the incident, and the range has been subsequently closed.”
In a statement to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the inmate suffered a “superficial injury,” and the bureau is reviewing what occurred.
“The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously,” Eimiller told the paper. “In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division. As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide.”