Two accidental shootings occurred at U.S. schools on Tuesday -- one by a California teacher conducting a public safety awareness lesson and the other by a school resource officer -- less than a week after the governor of Florida signed legislation allowing some teachers in his state to be armed in the classroom.
Two accidental shootings occurred at U.S. schools on Tuesday -- one by a California teacher conducting a public safety awareness lesson and the other by a school resource officer -- less than a week after the governor of Florida signed legislation allowing some teachers in his state to be armed in the classroom.
No one was hurt in the gunfire mishaps in Seaside, California, and Alexandria, Virginia, according to police in those cities.
The incident at Seaside High School occurred about 1:20 p.m. local time, when a teacher accidentally discharged his firearm in a classroom, the Seaside Police Department said in a statement. The teacher was identified by police as Dennis Alexander, who also serves as a reserve police officer in the nearby town of Sand City.
"Alexander was believed to have been providing instruction related to public safety awareness," the police statement said.
Police were investigating the circumstances of how the gun went off, and said classes at the school resumed.
Earlier Tuesday, a school resource officer at George Washington Middle School in Alexandria, Virginia, accidentally discharged a weapon while inside his office, according to the Alexandria Police Department.