The incident unfolded at the annual Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas convention, or CLEAT, hosted this week at the El Paso Marriott.
The El Paso Police Department released a statement immediately following the incident.
“The off duty officer, identified as 28 year old Kenneth Lee SHEKA, was engaged in a conversation with a female server near the hospitality area. Their conversation became inappropriate when SHEKA began making comments of a sexual nature and ultimately touched the female inappropriately as she walked passed him,” the statement read.
“The female told him not to do that again and continued to walk away, escorted by another male, when SHEKA pulled out a pistol and fired one round into a nearby wall.”
Sheka was immediately subdued and disarmed by other cops in attendance, who quickly called the El Paso Police Department to report the shooting.
“It was full of officers,” El Paso Police Sgt. Enrique Carrillo told the Temple Daily Telegram. “Our officers were at the event and responded immediately.”
Carrillo also confirmed that Sheka was consuming “some kind of alcohol” at the event.
Sheka was arrested and charged with one count of deadly conduct/discharge of a firearm — a third-degree felony.
He may also face disciplinary action from his department.
“We expect our officers to adhere to our code of conduct,” Temple Police Department spokesperson Christopher M. Wilcox explained. “We expect our officers to be professional and courteous, on or off duty, whether they’re in uniform or not.”
Wilcox also asserted that Sheka was at the convention on his own time and paying his own expenses, and was not representing the department at the event.
