Surprise bullet hole in Birkdale Village window came from cop removing gun in restroom
A police officer accidentally fired their gun inside a police field office bathroom at Birkdale Village and the incident was discovered only after another officer noticed a bullet hole months later.
Huntersville Police says an internal investigation is underway and the department would not identify the officer. No injuries were reported, but police said they are not taking the incident “lightly” and that it will be “investigated fully.”
The incident happened, according to Huntersville Police, while the officer was using the restroom.
“The officer removed their belt to use the restroom and in doing so, they also removed and unloaded their firearm, properly,” police said in a news release Wednesday.
“As the officer reloaded their firearm, they improperly had their finger on the trigger, which resulted in the discharge.”
Police spokeswoman Odette Saglimbeni said department policy requires that officers notify their supervisor “immediately” anytime they fire their gun on duty.
The officer who discharged the gun did not report it at the time, police said. The officer has since admitted that the weapon discharged early on an “unknown day” in September, according to the police news release.
Another officer reported finding the bullet hole last week in a window at the police field office. Police do not regularly staff the office, which they use to go to the bathroom and do paperwork, according to a Huntersville Police Department news release.
Birkdale Village is an upscale shopping and residential community off Interstate 77, Exit 25 (Sam Furr Road) at Lake Norman.
Police said “appropriate disciplinary action will be taken” following the investigation.
“The safety and trust of our citizens is of the utmost importance,” according to the police news release. “It is our goal to be transparent in these matters and, as the investigation continues, we will release information as legally allowed.”