Investigation Looks Into Police Shooting

LAMONT, Calif. -- A shooting that involved a California Highway Patrol officer that injured a 14-year-old girl is now the subject of an internal investigation that officials said may involve violations of department policy.

The main issue at hand is whether officers involved in the early Sunday morning shooting, that occurred near Lamont, reported the shooting in a timely manner.

Officials could not speak about the case due to the pending investigation, but sources told ABC23 that the investigation, conducted by the CHP and the Kern County Sheriff's department, is looking into why officers did not report the shooting promptly.

CHP policy states that it's the officer's responsibility to report the discharge of a firearm as soon as possible after the situation is contained.

Though the CHP did not say when the officers involved reported the shooting, they did say that officer David Mata shot one round at a car after police interrupted street racing in Lamont.

They said the vehicle that the 14-year-old victim was traveling in accelerated toward the officers, and Mata fired his gun in response, hitting the teen.

She was treated at the San Joaquin Community Hospital for her injuries, CHP said.

It also said that CHP officials did not find out about the shooting until hospital officials notified them.

The CHP said it is taking the incident very seriously.