Off-duty cop accidentally shoots self in Best Buy

An off-duty University of Illinois at Chicago police officer was injured when his service weapon accidentally discharged in a Vernon Hills Best Buy store, officials said Tuesday.

Officer Bryan Mallin, a resident of Cook County, was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with minor injuries after shooting himself around 5:38 p.m. Monday, Vernon Hills Police Sgt. Kevin Grampo said.

Mallin was shopping when he accidentally hooked his finger in the trigger guard of his gun while hitching up his pants, Grampo said. When Mallin pulled up his pants, his finger pressed the trigger and the gun fired.

"This appears to be a true accident," said Grampo, who added police are investigating, but charges are not anticipated.

Grampo said the bullet hit the officer in the leg, then slammed into the floor and splintered into several pieces.

Police did not know how many people were in the store at the time.

Mallin was released from the hospital Monday night.

UIC spokesman Bill Burton said the 39-year-old Mallin has been a UIC police officer for five years, and was not in uniform when the accidental shooting occurred.

"The matter is under investigational review to determine whether the policies for carrying a weapon while off-duty were followed," Burton said. "There is a policy in place for officers to carry a weapon while off-duty. UIC police officers are a sworn force of officers with statewide statutory powers."

The store remained open during and after the incident, Grampo said. No one else was injured.

Officials at the Vernon Hills Best Buy store refused to comment. They asked that all calls be forwarded to their corporate office.