A Pasadena Police Department officer was fired after accidentally shooting a colleague in the shoulder during an incident in September 2025 [1], [4].

The event highlights critical failures in firearm safety and departmental discipline. The shooting occurred during what officials described as unsafe, out-of-policy horseplay within the department's parking garage [2], [3].

According to dash-cam footage released by the Pasadena Police Department [5], the officer who fired the weapon pointed his firearm at a camera as a joke [6]. The weapon discharged, striking the other officer in the shoulder [2]. The wounded officer sustained serious injuries as a result of the discharge [3].

The incident took place in Pasadena, California [3]. The footage provided evidence for an investigation involving the Los Angeles County District Attorney [7]. Following the investigation into the breach of safety protocols, the department fired the officer responsible for the shooting [4].

Departmental policies strictly prohibit the mishandling of firearms and unsafe behavior with weapons. The use of a service weapon for a joke constitutes a severe violation of these safety standards [2], [6].

“The shooting occurred because the officer pointed his firearm at a dash-cam camera as a joke.”

This incident underscores the severe legal and professional consequences of violating firearm safety protocols within law enforcement. By treating a service weapon as a prop for a joke, the officer bypassed fundamental safety training, resulting in a critical injury and the loss of employment. The release of dash-cam footage serves as a transparent record of the negligence, likely limiting the department's legal liability while emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to unsafe horseplay.