Deputy Loses Eye In Shooting Practice

A senior deputy with the Calaveras County Sheriff´s Department lost an eye during what´s being described as a “freak accident” last week.

Calaveras County Deputy Jim Waddell was doing practice shooting on a range on his property in Stanislaus County.

After firing his AR-15 rifle at a steel target, a bullet fragment ricocheted back and struck him in the left eye.

The deputy was wearing safety glasses, but the fragment somehow went over the glasses.

Deputy Waddell was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Stanford Medical Center where emergency surgery was performed, but doctors were not able to save the eye.

Officials say he´s in good spirits and recovering at home, receiving much support from friends and coworkers.

He returns today to Stanford Medical for a follow-up surgery.