Castaic prison inmate hit by ricochet at shooting range

An inmate at the Los Angeles County Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic was grazed by a ricochet bullet from a nearby shooting range, sheriff's officials said Friday.

According to the sheriff's department, the unnamed inmate was “glanced by a stray bullet” and notified jail staff on Aug. 9. The inmate was medically evaluated and an injury report was completed, sheriff's officials said.

“It was determined that several vehicles were also struck by bullets, and that prompted officers to notify the Major Crimes Bureau, the Sheriff's Crime Lab, and the Firearms Training Unit to begin an investigation,” the sheriff's department said in a statement. “Investigators determined that the stray bullets came from the firing range used by the FBI.”

“Sheriff's and FBI officials discussed the incident and the shooting range was subsequently closed.”

In a statement to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the inmate suffered a “superficial injury” and the FBI is currently investigating the incident.

“The FBI takes all shootings involving our agents or task force members seriously,” Eimiller told the newspaper. “Per FBI policy, the shooting incident is being investigated by the FBI's Inspection Division. Because this is an ongoing matter, we cannot provide any further details.”

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