Send this page to someone via email

An off-duty Edmonton police officer accidentally shot himself in the leg while at an EPS gun range Sunday afternoon.

The shooting happened at around 1 p.m,. at the Constable William Nixon Memorial Training Centre just off 129 Avenue and 9 Street NE, in northeast Edmonton, according to the division’s watch commander.

“One of our off-duty members is part of our EPS gun club,” Staff Sgt. Paul Czerwonka told Global News, adding officers get together sometimes on days off to do target practice.

Czerwonka described it as an “accidental discharge.”

“Nothing intentional. Unfortunately he was hurt in his upper leg,” Czerwonka said.

FILE: An Edmonton police officer shows off his shooting skills at the William Nixon Training Centre as part of a media event. July 29, 2014. Trish Kozicka, Global News

Officers shut down several northside roads while a police-escorted ambulance took the injured office to the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Story continues below advertisement

“He was conscious and breathing. His injuries are not life-threatening. Our members block the intersections to get the ambulance to the hospital as soon as we could.”

https://twitter.com/metalairplanes/status/980527680683622400

Police were locking down the scene as a preliminary investigation got underway to make sure protocol was followed in terms of the use of the range.

“Our members are trained extensively in the use of firearms and the safety behind it. Sometimes weapons do accidentally discharge,” Czerwonka said. Tweet This

“We are just treating it as an investigation right now of what happened. Interviewing some of the members that were there, interviewing a member in the hospital. At the end of the day will just figure out what happened.”

We are at the EPS Nixon gun range where an officer was shot in the leg in an “accidental discharge.” He was conscious and breathing but also rushed to hospital in an ambulance with police escort. #yeg pic.twitter.com/oZ4e3jR7XU — Sarah Kraus (@SarahNKraus) April 1, 2018

EPS has started a preliminary investigation at the Nixon gun range. The officer that was wounded was here with off-duty members as part of a gun club. #yeg pic.twitter.com/kELTKzlaaO — Sarah Kraus (@SarahNKraus) April 1, 2018

The officer was shot in the leg around 1pm. Not clear yet if someone accidentally shot him or if he accidentally shot himself in the leg. Numerous EPS vehicles around the back of the Nixon range. #yeg pic.twitter.com/DGsoSq8vJm — Sarah Kraus (@SarahNKraus) April 1, 2018