Unintentional discharge of deputy’s gun hits employee in arm at John Wayne Airport

An Orange County sheriff’s deputy accidentally discharged a weapon on Wednesday morning, striking an airport employee in the arm after the bullet went through a wall, officials said.

The incident occurred at approximately 7 a.m. in an administrative office of the airport, said Orange County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Braun.

The employee, described as a female in her 50s, was taken to a hospital to tend to her injuries, which Braun said are not considered to be life-threatening.

Airport operations were unaffected. The office in which the incident took place is not open to the public, Braun added.

The Orange County district attorney’s office will investigate the shooting, while the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will also conduct its own policy-focused investigation concerning the unintentional discharge.

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