On the night of March 11th, 2025, what started as harmless joking inside the Pasadena Police Department quickly turned into a life-changing mistake. At approximately 11:30 p.m., three Pasadena Police officers had just finished their shifts and were inside a secure room located in the department's former Criminal Investigations Division building in Pasadena, California. The officers were changing clothes and putting away their gear after a long day. Body camera footage and surveillance video later showed the three officers laughing and joking together. The atmosphere appeared relaxed, but the playful behavior soon escalated into something far more dangerous. According to investigators, one of the officers removed his duty weapon from its holster and began pretending to engage in a tactical shootout with one of his colleagues. Witnesses said the officer pointed the firearm at his fellow officer multiple times in what was described as horseplay and immature behavior. Then in a split second, everything changed. Believing the weapon was unloaded or failing to realized that a round was still chambered, the officer pulled the trigger. A loud gunshot echoed throughout the room. The bullet struck the second officer in the left shoulder at pointblank range. Body camera recordings captured the sound of the gunshot. followed immediately by screams of pain and the panic of the officer responsible who instantly realized the severity of what had happened. The third officer rushed into action. While emergency personnel were being notified, he quickly provided first aid and applied a tourniquet in an effort to stop the bleeding. The wounded officer was transported to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. Fortunately, doctors determined that the bullet had missed all major arteries and vital organs. After several weeks of treatment and recovery, the injured officer made a full physical recovery and was eventually cleared to return to duty. Meanwhile, Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris ordered two separate investigations. An outside agency was tasked with conducting a criminal investigation to ensure impartiality while the department launched its own administrative review into the officer's conduct. In a public statement, the Pasadena Police Department described the incident as a flagrant and indefensible violation of the most basic firearm safety protocols. The officer who fired the shot was immediately suspended from duty. Following the conclusion of the administrative investigation, severe disciplinary actions were imposed. These measures reportedly included an extended unpaid suspension, permanent removal from field duties, and a formal review process that could ultimately result in termination. Investigators say the incident serves as a stark reminder that firearms are never toys and that even a moment of carelessness can have lifealtering consequences. What began as a joke inside a police locker room nearly ended in tragedy. If you enjoyed this video, be sure to subscribe, like, and comment for more real life police incidents and body cam footage.