California officer accidentally shoots fellow cop during ‘unsafe horseplay’ incident
The incident remains under investigation by Pasadena police and prosecutors
A California police department has released video footage showing the moment an officer accidentally shot a fellow officer during what officials described as “unsafe and out of policy horseplay involving loaded firearms.”
The Pasadena Police Department released the footage on Thursday, June 10, showing the September 2025 incident that occurred at the department’s parking structure on Ramona Street in Pasadena, California.
According to the department, the shooting happened on Sept. 7, 2025, and resulted in injuries to one officer, who has since recovered.
Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris addressed the incident before the video was released, describing the actions captured in the footage as a serious violation of department policy.
“The wounded officer has recovered from his injuries,” Harris said.
The brief video, which is less than a minute long, shows one officer appearing to point a firearm toward another officer who was inside a police vehicle, as seen through a dashcam from an approaching vehicle.
The officer seen on camera later appears to have his firearm holstered before falling to the ground in pain after suffering what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the arm. Other officers are then seen rushing toward him to provide assistance.
The police department said the footage was released publicly in accordance with California law but was delayed to allow investigators to complete key investigative steps and preserve the integrity of the ongoing review.
“The incident involved Pasadena Police Department personnel and resulted in injuries to one officer, who has since recovered,” the department said in a statement.
The incident remains under investigation by the Pasadena Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Officials said investigators are continuing to review available evidence, including video recordings, witness statements, forensic findings and other relevant information.
The department has not announced any further details regarding potential disciplinary action or findings from the investigation.
