LUSBY, MD - Police in Calvert County are awaiting a ballistics report before wrapping up an investigation into a shooting incident that occurred last month at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP) in Lusby.
According to Maureen Brown, a spokesperson for Constellation Energy Group (CEG), the plant’s operators, the incident happened May 14 while officers from several law enforcement agencies were conducting an exercise.
“Six stray bullets traveled a half-mile from the firing range to other locations at the plant,” said Brown. “There were no injuries and plant safety was not jeopardized.”
Brown said one of the projectiles damaged the outer pane of a plant office window. The inner pane of that same window was not damaged, Brown stated. Another bullet struck a vehicle parked in the lot.
The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and Calvert Cliffs Security are conducting a joint investigation.
“The investigation began the day of the incident,” said Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans [R], who added authorities are trying to determine what type of weapon the shots were fired from. “We’ll conclude the investigation as soon as we can.”
Brown stated the training exercise was immediately halted when it was discovered bullets had breeched the area outside of the firing range. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the agency that regulates the plant’s operation, was immediately notified, said Brown.
Evans confirmed the activity at the firing range was part of a three-week training session for 21 candidates for special operations teams for the sheriff’s office and six other agencies, including the CCNPP security unit and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“They were all certified police officers in training,” said Evans.
The sheriff stated the firing range has been in operation at the plant for at least 20 years. Officers from the sheriff’s office, Maryland State Police and plant security practice at the range in order to measure up to national law enforcement standards for firearms use.
“We [CEG] are accountable for this range,” said Brown. “We take safety very seriously. We are trying to understand the underlying issues and prevent any reoccurrences. We have a very good relationship with local law enforcement.”
When asked if any of the officers using the range at the time of the incident might face punishment, Evans replied, “I think we’re just going to identify what gun it came from. It was a training incident.”
Evans said authorities are likely to “re-evaluate” training procedures at the firing range after the investigation report is completed.
The Calvert Independent
