In a bizarre incident in Nebraska, a dog accidentally shot someone outside a convenience store after its owner went inside, according to police. The shooting occurred on Saturday at approximately 12:07 p.m. at the Short Stop convenience store in Scottsbluff, about seven hours west of Omaha.
Initial Reports Misleading
Officers from the Scottsbluff Police Department responded to reports of a shooting, initially told it involved a BB gun, as reported by KNOP. However, while en route to the store at 2002 Avenue I, they learned that a shotgun had actually been fired.
Upon arrival, authorities found a truck with a camper attached and damage to the passenger-side door consistent with a shotgun blast. The truck's owner had gone inside the store, leaving another person standing outside near the passenger-side door. Police said the dog, sitting in the back seat, jumped from one side of the truck to the other, accidentally triggering a loaded shotgun inside the vehicle. The breed of the dog has not been revealed.
Victim and Bystander Injured
The victim has not been identified. The dog's action also caused a nearby woman to be hit by a pellet in her upper right arm. She was stopped at a traffic light on Avenue I with her arm resting out of the window. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was rushed to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff for treatment. Her injury was not believed to be life-threatening.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Scottsbluff police. Nebraska state law prohibits traveling with a loaded shotgun in a vehicle. Law enforcement stated that the incident serves as an 'important reminder that firearm safety is of the utmost importance when handling, possessing, transporting, or maintaining any type of firearm,' per KNEB.
Similar Incidents
Despite the bizarre nature of this incident, other shootings by dogs have been reported in the US over the past year. In November, a 53-year-old Pennsylvania man was allegedly shot in the back by his dog, according to Shillington police cited by WFMZ. The man said he was cleaning his shotgun and had laid the firearm on the bed when his dog jumped up, apparently seeing the gun as an invitation to be petted, discharging the weapon. The man underwent surgery for his injuries, and law enforcement deemed the shooting accidental, possibly caused by the dog's paw getting caught in the trigger with the safety off.
The Daily Mail reached out to the Scottsbluff Police Department for comment on Saturday's shooting.
