ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The University of Central Florida Police Department has closed its investigation in an April incident where a gun was reported in the campus library.
Police released final reports, body cam video and documents associated with the investigation, including more details about an officer’s gun that was accidentally fired at the scene while hundreds of students were in the area.
The Internal Affairs report said the officer who accidentally fired the rifle was trying to put it away in the back of his patrol cruiser once the scene was cleared.
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The officer said in a report that he put the safety on his rifle and when he got back to his patrol car, he went to re-rack the rifle but had to manipulate it to get it back in the holder.
The officer reached around to the left side of the rifle, where the safe was located, and pushed the rifle in the holder until it was secure.
PHOTO: You can see bullet hole went right through the top of the patrol car---> #wftv pic.twitter.com/jTTAuLXiAV
— Karla Ray (@KRayWFTV) May 13, 2016
When he went to close the locking lever of the rifle rack, the rifle discharged, one round through the roof of the patrol vehicle.
No one was injured.
The officer took full responsibility for the incident and was issued a written reprimand and had to pay $292 to fix the patrol car.
Officer is Hugh Carpenter. Also ordered to pay $292 for damages to patrol car from bullet. #WFTV
— Karla Ray (@KRayWFTV) May 13, 2016
As for the reports of a woman in the library with a gun, police said they are still unable to determine whether there was a firearm on campus.
Police released an interview with their main witness, who described how she say a woman praying in the library and thought she saw a gun in the woman's hands.
The woman was never found.
UCF Police Chief Richard Beary said in a statement, “UCFPD thoroughly reviewed the information reported to us and worked to track down additional leads that could help us understand what took place in the Library the afternoon of April 26.
We are unable to clearly determine whether there was a firearm on campus, and therefore, we are inactivating our investigation. It could be reopened in the event additional information becomes available.
We’ve had several discussions internally and with our stakeholders about our actions that day, and we will use that feedback to enhance future responses.”
Cox Media Group
