Chief tactical Instructor M.C. Joseph supervises cadets from this college’s Law Enforcement Training Academy shooting at the First Responder’s Academy in Von Ormy. The 22 cadets shot targets in the shape of human silhouettes from the 15-yard line. They also shot targets at 3 yards, 5 yards, 7 yards and 25 yards. File
The FBI and this college are investigating reports of wayward bullets landing in the neighborhood behind range.
By Daniel Carde
dcarde@student.alamo.edu
This college’s gun range will reopen in time for Law Enforcement Training Academy’s cadets to begin their training April 16 at the First Responders Academy in Von Ormy, chief tactical Instructor M.C. Joseph said April 8 during a phone interview.
The FBI, who uses and co-owns the range, suspended shooting March 27, after residents complained wayward bullets landed in their neighborhood, FBI Special Agent Michelle Lee said April 1 during a phone interview.
The range is managed by the continuing education training network at this college.
Cadets use the range for weapons training and qualification during Phase 3 of their four training phases. The range also is used by the FBI and area agencies that do not have a gun range.
This college is working with the FBI to investigate the claims, Lee said.
“We are committed to moving quickly … to ensure the community is safe, and that we have identified any possible causes of the safety concerns of the residents,” Lee said.
The range was designed with safety in mind, Lee said. The range was completed in January 2012.
“It was constructed using the standards, which are accepted as the best safety standards, which are NRA (National Rifle Association) standards,” Lee said.
Vanessa Torres, director of public relations at this college, and Lee both said in statements released March 27 “a certified instructor is on-site during all shooting exercises.”
Torres said in the statement the instructor has the authority to suspend all shooting at the range.
For further information, contact Torres at 486-0883.
