An off-duty Upper Marlboro, Maryland police officer accidentally shot herself while reporting to a purported crime scene.  Following the accident, she was taken to the hospital for surgery and is now in stable condition.

According to the report, she responded to an argument at a local barbershop and believed there was a robbery in progress.  She was in her car and reaching for her gun when it went off. 

The local police chief acknowledged that although there may not have been a robbery in progress, he is certain that a crime was taking place.  “We don’t stop being police officers when we’re off duty,” he said. “We don’t have that kind of luxury,”  adding that police are required to keep their duty weapons at hand at all times. 

Source:

Laura Wainman, Megan Rivers, “Off-duty Police Officer Accidentally Shoots Self Responding to Active Crime Scene,”  WUSA 9 (November 11, 2021).