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DEA Agent Suspended After Shooting Video Surfaces
Investigation Launched Into Who Leaked Internet Video
POSTED: 6:00 pm EST March 18, 2005
UPDATED: 4:01 am EST March 19, 2005
ORLANDO, Fla. -- An agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency was been suspended after video surfaced showing the man shooting himself during a gun safety class in front of a group of Orlando fourth-graders, according to Local 6 News.
An investigation has been launched to determine who leaked the home video of the undercover DEA agent shooting himself at an event sponsored by the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association.
Before the shooting, the agent was videotaped talking about how certain weapons are popular with rap artists.
"This is a Glock 40," the agent said on the tape. "Fifty Cent, Too Short, all of them talk about a Glock 40, OK?," he said. "I'm the only one in this room professional enough that I know of to carry this Glock 40."
Video
Video Of DEA Agent Shooting Self During Safety Class For Kids On Internet
Seconds later, the agent shot himself in the foot.
"See how that accident happened, that could happen to you and you could be blown away," the agent said after the shooting.
Experts in the field said that the undercover agent should never have been videotaped because it could put the agent's life at risk, Local 6 News reported.
"It puts a lot of undercover agents in jeopardy if their faces are videotaped," the masked agent told Local 6 News. "His identity is burned. His identity is known as a police officer and its a potential personal safety hazard to himself as well as his family members."
The video of the shooting is posted on several Web sites on the Internet. The video shows the shooting and the agent's face.
Local 6 News did not show the entire video of the shooting because the undercover officer could be identified in some of the shots.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
