Federal air marshal accidentally shoots self in leg in West Orange, New Jersey

WEST ORANGE — A federal air marshal accidentally shot himself in the leg with his service weapon inside of a West Orange office building this morning, police said.

The marshal, who was not identified, suffered non-life threatening injuries after the shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. inside of an office building on Rooney Circle, said West Orange Police Sgt. David Palmere.

The marshal was taken to University Hospital in Newark, according to Palmere, who said the weapon used was a handgun.

It was not clear what led to the shooting, and no one else was injured, Palmere said.

While the incident remains under investigation, it did not appear that the marshal or anyone else would face criminal charges, according to Palmere.

Federal air marshals are law enforcement personnel, under the umbrella of the national Transportation Safety Administration, who carry firearms for security reasons on commercial flights.

“TSA officials are investigating the accidental discharge of a firearm at an off-airport location earlier today," spokesman Ross Feinstein said in a statement. "The individual was transported to a local hospital for treatment, and is recovering from his wound.”

Late Sunday afternoon, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office took over the investigation into the shooting, according to Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly.

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