Authorities are investigating after a dog accidentally discharged a shotgun outside a convenience store in western Nebraska over the weekend, injuring a woman in a nearby vehicle.
The incident unfolded on May 23 in the parking lot of the Short Stop on the 2000 block of Avenue I in Scottsbluff, a police spokeswoman told NTD via email on Wednesday.
Officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after 12 p.m. after initially receiving a report that someone had been shot by a BB gun, but were updated while en route that a shotgun had been involved.
When police arrived, they found a truck with an attached camper that had visible damage to the passenger side door consistent with a shotgun blast.
Officers determined through a preliminary investigation that the truck's owner had pulled into the convenience store to buy supplies, while a passenger got out and stood near the front passenger side door.
"A dog in the back seat moved from one side of the vehicle to the other," the Scottsbluff Police Department spokesperson said. "During that movement, the dog triggered a shotgun that had a live shell in the chamber, causing the firearm to discharge."
At the time the gun went off, a woman stopped at the traffic light on Avenue I was struck in the upper right arm by a pellet from the shotgun blast while her arm was resting out of her vehicle's window.
The woman, whose identity has not been released, was subsequently taken to Regional West Medical Center—roughly two miles away—by a family member for treatment. Her current condition is unknown, but officials said her injury was not believed to be life-threatening.
It is unclear whether the driver of the truck will face any charges, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Scottsbluff Police Department spokeswoman emphasized responsible firearm use following the incident, noting that it served as "an important reminder that firearm safety is of the utmost importance when handling, possessing, transporting, or maintaining any type of firearm."