A Hawkins County, Tenn., jailer has been fired for shooting a prisoner with a rubber pellet fired from a toy gun.

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Sheriff Roger Christian said the jailer, Josh Byrd, had been hired in late September after serving as a reserve deputy, the Kingsport (Tenn.) Times News reported Wednesday.

Christian said Byrd had fired the toy pistol, which fires rubber pellets roughly the same size as a BB, on Oct. 12 or 13. He described the incident as horseplay that did not conform to the standards of professionalism expected from his staff.

"He was standing outside the jail, plinking with it, shooting it, and as the inmate came up for whatever reason, he aimed it toward the inmate and fired," Christian said. "I feel it was intentional. I don't feel it was an accident."

Christian said the male prisoner was not injured and no legal charges were filed against Byrd.