An Indiana deputy accidentally shot a high school student Thursday morning during a training drill involving “bad guys,” police say.
Tim DisPennett, a 19-year member of the Vermillion County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Office mistakenly shot and injured the unnamed South Vermillion High School student around 9:30 a.m., Sgt. Matt Ames told WTHITV. DisPennett accidentally fired his weapon while teaching a vocational class on how to become a police officer, Ames continued during a press conference.
The student was transported to Terre Haute hospital, and did not sustain any life-threatening injuries, according to the outlet. There were around eight to ten people in the class, South Vermillion Community School Corp. Superintendent Dave Chapman said.
Indiana State Police have identified the sheriff’s deputy who accidentally shot a student as 19-year-veteran Tim DisPennett. More details tonight at 5:00 and 6:00. @WTHITV https://t.co/DYTHeQcQxA
— Blake Dollier (WTHI-TV) (@BlakeDollierTV) November 17, 2022
The bullet grazed the student, who described the pain he felt as a “sting,” Chapman told the Washington Times. (RELATED: REPORT: Police Investigate After Off-Duty Rochester Officer Shoots Two, Then Kills Herself)
“The incident was an accidental discharge of a firearm by a law enforcement officer during a drill. One student was injured without life-threatening injuries and has been taken to the hospital,” the high school shared in a Facebook post. The school went into lockdown “due to the abundance of emergency personnel in the building.”
State police are interviewing the deputy about the accidental discharge, as well as any students who may have witnessed the incident, WTHR reported.
DisPennett was placed on administrative leave under protocol, according to CBS News.