A Pasadena police officer accidentally shot a colleague in the shoulder during unsafe horseplay in September 2025 [1, 2].

The incident highlights critical failures in firearm safety and departmental protocol, as officers engaged in behavior that violated official policy while handling loaded weapons.

The shooting occurred in the Pasadena Police Department parking garage [2, 4]. According to reports, the officers were engaged in out-of-policy horseplay that involved jokingly raising loaded firearms at one another [2, 6]. During this interaction, one officer accidentally discharged his weapon, striking his colleague in the shoulder [1, 2].

Video footage of the discharge was released June 10 [3]. The footage captures the moment the weapon fired during the prohibited activity. The department has since addressed the safety breaches associated with the event.

Gene Harris, the Pasadena Police Chief, provided an update on the condition of the injured officer. "The wounded officer has recovered from his injuries," Harris said [3].

The department's internal review focused on the fact that the officers were using live weapons for non-professional, joking purposes, a direct violation of safety standards. While the wounded officer has recovered [3], the release of the video serves as a public record of the safety lapse within the agency [3].

“The wounded officer has recovered from his injuries.”

The release of this footage underscores the volatility of 'horseplay' within law enforcement agencies, where the presence of loaded firearms transforms minor policy violations into potentially lethal accidents. By making the video public, the Pasadena Police Department acknowledges a breach of professional conduct and safety protocols, reflecting a broader institutional effort to maintain accountability for firearm discipline.