Aberdeen Police Officer Shooting Ruled as Accidental Discharge

PIERRE, S.D.-     Attorney General Larry Long and the Division of Criminal Investigation today released a statement regarding the shooting of an Aberdeen city police officer on May, 7, 2008 in Aberdeen. 

The Attorney General’s Office has made the preliminary determination that Officer Tom Tarnowski’s weapon accidentally discharged during the execution of a search warrant at 211 Ninth Avenue SE in Aberdeen. Officer Grant Schnabel was hit in the leg by a single round from Tarnowski’s MP5 9mm duty weapon. The weapon was in automatic fire mode. A total of two rounds were discharged. The other round entered the floor of the residence. Schnabel is currently in stable condition at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital.  Officer Tarnowski is on paid administrative leave.

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