Crime & Safety

Cadet Charged After 3 Are Wounded In Shooting At Police Academy

Police Cadet Clayton Whatley was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon after a loaded handgun went off in his backpack, police said.

Clayton Whatley is charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon after his gun went off in a police cadet classroom.
Clayton Whatley is charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon after his gun went off in a police cadet classroom. (Texas City Police Department)

TEXAS CITY, TX — A Texas City Police cadet was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon after the loaded weapon he was carrying in his backpack went off inside a classroom at the Mainland Law Enforcement Training Academy, police said.

Clayton Whatley is in the Texas City Jail with his bond set at $5,000. He is expected to be transferred to the Galveston County Jail.

According the Texas City Police Department, Whatley was in class with other cadets when he reached into his backpack and discharged the weapon. Two cadets were wounded in their calves and a third was grazed by a bullet.

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Police and EMS responded to the shooting in the 1200 block of Amburn Road at about 7:40 p.m., and the two cadets who were shot were taken to UTMB in Galveston. Whatley was taken into custody after the incident.

The incident remains under investigation.

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