Idaho State University teacher accidentally shoots self in class

POCATELLO, Idaho -- An Idaho State University instructor was wounded in the foot after a concealed handgun in the person's pocket discharged during a chemistry lab session with students in the room, school officials said.

Arriving Pocatello police officers found the instructor on Tuesday in the Physical Science Complex with a non-life threatening injury.

The person was treated and released at Portneuf Medical Center, police Lt. Paul Manning said. No other injuries were reported.

Police said the person had the proper permits to carry a concealed weapon on campus.

Idaho State University spokeswoman Adrienne King said the school is not releasing the name of the instructor because the matter is a personnel issue. Police also refused to release the name.

King said there could be an administrative review after police complete their investigation.

The chemistry lab has 19 registered students, but it wasn't clear how many were in the lab at the time the gun discharged, King said.

King said the school has an alert system but didn't use it because police quickly determined the shooting was an isolated incident.

"It's unfortunate," ISU President Arthur Vailas told the Idaho State Journal. "I'm sure the incident was scary and embarrassing."

Despite opposition from every public university college president, lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year allowing retired law enforcement officers and people with concealed-carry permits to take firearms onto public college and university campuses but not into dormitories or stadiums.

The law went into effect July 1. Classes started at Idaho State University Aug. 25.