Lake County Sheriff's deputy wounded in accidental shooting

A 22-year veteran Lake County sheriff's deputy underwent successful surgery Friday afternoon to remove a bullet from her abdomen she suffered in an accidental shooting, Sheriff Mark Curran said.

Deputy Karen Harris was in stable condition at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge after being wounded as she removed her duty weapon from her car that morning in the parking garage at the county building in Waukegan.

"I would ask that everyone say a prayer for Karen as she recovers from her injuries," Curran said. "I know this is a difficult time for her family at home and here at work."

The 46-year-old deputy, who Curran said has been assigned to court security for at least a decade, was removing her .40 caliber semi-automatic weapon from the trunk of her personal car around 8:05 a.m. when a round was discharged.

An investigation by the Waukegan police department determined an object became lodged in the trigger guard of the Sig Sauer pistol, causing it to fire when Harris lifted the weapon.

Curran said the bullet passed through her right hand and lodged in her abdomen.

After an initial assessment at Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan, Curran said the deputy was taken to Lutheran General by helicopter.

Curran said a sheriff's deputy brought Harris' father to the emergency room at Vista East, and she was conscious and able to speak to with him before being transferred to Lutheran General.

Curran said Harris' injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

He said he expects Harris to remain in the hospital for about a week and then face an eight to 10-week recovery period.

Sheriff's deputies from inside the courthouse and Waukegan police responded to the scene immediately, and traffic in the garage was disrupted for about a half-hour.