A BDF sentry was shot in the thigh by a recruit's stray bullet during a live-fire exercise at Mountain Pine Ridge. BDF Commander Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez told us via Zoom today the injury was not life-threatening, noting that multiple safety measures were in place to prevent this:
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Commander - BDF
"The soldier who got shot was on sentry duty, meaning that he was there as a lookout to ensure that vehicles or any civilians or anyone else does not enter the training area during the live fire. He was about close to about three-quarters of a mile, 1.2 kilometers away from where the shooting was happening. Okay, so he was a fair distance away. And the shooting was going on and then he felt a burning sensation in his upper right thigh. And it was assessed that there was a bullet in his leg. It was not a life-threatening injury; there was minimal bleeding. He was taken to the San Ignacio Hospital, where he was treated and the bullet was removed. And he was then transported to Price Barracks, where he's undergoing further treatment until just before he's being released. I'd just like to emphasize it's not a life-threatening injury, and it was a relatively minor injury considering all the circumstances."
"So immediately after the incident and before that time, there were all measures in place to ensure that accidents don't happen and that people don't enter the live fire area inadvertently. So immediately when this happened, training was canceled, the shooting stopped, and an investigation team was launched from Price Barracks to go there and do an assessment. That investigation is ongoing and is about to be wrapped up anytime. Thereafter, we will make an assessment based on the investigation and the recommendations from the lead investigator on whether to continue training or not."
The soldier has since been listed in stable condition.
