Police: ICE agent accidentally fires gun at OIA, injures foot

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An accidental gun discharge prompted a scare at Orlando International Airport on Tuesday.

Orlando police said a federal agent, who works for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was going to board a flight when he dropped a gun in the security checkpoint area and it fired.

Police said while unslinging a shoulder bag, the bag caught the agent’s holstered weapon, and as the agent tried to catch it, the trigger was pulled.

The agent was struck in the heel and treated at the scene, but was then taken to the hospital as a precaution.

No other injuries were reported.

Federal investigators said in a statement Wednesday, "On August 1, 2017, at approximately 11:20 a.m. EDT, a deportation officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was injured when he accidentally discharged his weapon and was hit in his right foot. His injury is not considered to be life-threatening.

"He was immediately taken to the hospital by ambulance and is in stable condition. No other injuries occurred.

"The incident has been referred to the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility for investigation and no further details will be released at this time.”

George Robins was at the airport at 11:20 a.m. dropping off his grandson when he heard a loud bang.

“I heard a gunshot go off and I knew it was a gunshot. I started looking around right away for where it was at,” he said.

He said his grandson and others ducked for cover.

Raw: Witness speaks about accidental gunfire at OIA

Traveler Tony Ricci said he was steps away from the gunfire.

“I was standing about 10 feet away and all of a sudden I heard the gun go off,” he said.

Ricci also saw the bullet.

“There are hundreds of people around. We looked about 6 feet away and the bullet was right there on the carpet,” he said.

Raw: Witness describes accidental gunfire at OIA

There’s a hole in the carpet where the bullet made contact with the floor. Airport officials covered it with a plant.

As a gun owner and military veteran, Robins wants to know why the gun’s safety wasn’t on if the agent was on vacation.

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“He could have hit anybody, or it could have happened on a plane and killed a lot of people,” Robins said.

An OIA spokesperson said the incident did not affect airport operations.

The agent was not identified.

TSA said federal agents are allowed to fly armed at any time.

The investigation is ongoing.

Cox Media Group