Tragedy struck the Ocala Police Department Monday morning when one of their officers was killed after being hit by a stray bullet during firearms training.
According to Fox News, Officer Jared Forsyth, 33, was immediately taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. Forsyth had been a member of the Ocala Police Department since 2012.
“He was wearing his bulletproof vest, but the round entered in his arm and went through his chest,” said Ocala Police Chief Greg Graham. “He was shot in the side, so his vest wouldn’t have helped him.”
A police spokesperson stated the accidental shooting took place at the Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala.
“Words can’t express the sorrow that I feel for losing an officer under my watch. I just pray I don’t lose two. If you pray, please pray for my officer, pray for the one who didn’t survive, and pray for the one that hopefully will survive this,” said Graham.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the shooting, as it is standard practice in a shooting involving an officer.
