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LAPD Chief Responds To Investigation Into Stray-Bullet Shooting In Culver City

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —  LAPD Chief Charlie Beck on Wednesday responded to an investigation into a stray-bullet shooting that occurred in Culver City.

CBS2's Dave Lopez has confirmed the shooting involved an off-duty LAPD officer in his probationary period.

The officer is under home duty while he is under investigation.

"I can assure everybody," Beck said, "that we will find out what his involvement is and we will take appropriate action."

Lopez said the chief remained guarded in his comments about the investigation.

A gun was found in the hallway of an apartment complex in Culver City and a bullet lodged in the wall of a nearby apartment.

Lopez asked the chief if the gun found in the hallway belonged to the officer or was one issued to him by the department.

"I believe it was a department-issued weapon," Beck said, "but I am not positive on that. Not that it matters. It was a gun normally in his control."

RELATED STORY: Culver City Residents Upset After LAPD Officer's Stray Bullet Struck Their Apartment

The apartment owner spoke to CBS2 and KCAL9 but didn't want his face shown on camera.

"Six or eight inches in a different direction," said the apartment owner, "and that bullet would have been in our bed."

The man said it was his girlfriend who found the gun in the hallway.

Lopez asked Beck if there was "any" doubt the officer involved was the one who also fired the weapon.

"Well," Beck said, "there are lots of doubts."

Lopez spoke to officials who also declined to go on camera, but they referred to the incident as "a negligent discharge of a firearm." Also, according to his sources, it is not an infrequent occurrence.

What happened in this case? Beck stayed mum.

"It's not that I don't want to discuss it," he said. "I can't."

Because the officer is still in his probationary period, Lopez said, the chief has the right to fire him without it coming up for review by an LAPD Board of Rights hearing.

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