US3 min(s) read
Published 16:36 28 May 2026 GMT
The bizarre incident involving the shooting of a woman by a dog has grabbed headlines across the US.
A woman was stopped at a traffic light in Nebraska, while the dog was sitting in the passenger seat of a parked truck at a nearby convenience store.
Police in Scottsbluff say they were called to the store on Saturday (May 23) at 12:07 pm, following reports of a person being shot by a BB gun.
However, they were soon told that a shotgun was involved instead, and they found a truck with an attached camper, with the passenger door showing damage consistent with a shotgun blast.
Ordinarily, suspects would be identified following an investigation, but there was only one being in the car - a dog, which was sitting in the back seat.
The pooch had moved from one side of the vehicle to the other, triggering the firearm to fire, as there was a live shell in the chamber, while the truck's owner wasn't in the vehicle.
Some may chuckle at the thought of a dog being handcuffed before being taken to doggie jail, but obviously, this is not the case.
Queen City News' Chief Legal Analyst Khalif J. Rhodes told the news channel what legal action can be taken next.
He revealed that there were several previous instances where something similar has happened, seeing several people severely injured, while one sadly died.
He explained: "You have to look at a couple of things. These type of cases will come down to recklessness. Did this individual have the firearm loaded?
"That's going to be the first in this case in Nebraska. Ironically, it is illegal to have your firearm in the car loaded while traveling in Nebraska, so if it's loaded in that would have already been an issue."
He said that it would be "really fact specific", adding: "That's why investigators say law enforcement officers said this case is still being investigated.
"Ironically, this woman, when she was first shot, they thought it was a BB gun because it was shotgun with pellets," he explained, before they realised it was a shotgun that was fired.
As a result of the shotgun going off, a woman stopped at a traffic light nearby was shot in the arm, though her injury was believed not to be life-threatening, as she was transferred to hospital.
Police have issued a statement to the public, reading: "The Scottsbluff Police Department reminds the public that per Nebraska State Statute, it is illegal to travel with a loaded shotgun in a vehicle," according to People.
"This incident also serves as an important reminder that firearm safety is of the utmost importance when handling, possessing, transporting, or maintaining any type of firearm."
An investigation is currently ongoing.
