Authorities do not suspect foul play in the unusual incident.
An individual from Shillington, Pennsylvania, found himself in a peculiar situation when he claimed that his dog accidentally shot him in the back with a shotgun while he was in the process of cleaning the firearm. The 53-year-old man, whose identity was not disclosed, explained to the police that he had placed the shotgun on the bed and sat down, prompting his eager dog to join him for some affection.
The man was caught off guard when the shotgun discharged, hitting him in the lower back.
Shillington Police Cpl. Michael Schoone told WFMZ, “He’s not sure what stage of cleaning he was in at the time, so it’s unsure if the dog’s paw may have gotten caught inside the trigger and the safety was off or if there was some sort of manufacturer malfunction.”
The man’s son dialed 911, and emergency responders swiftly transported him to the hospital for treatment.
Authorities discovered a spent shell casing inside the shotgun, using the bizarre incident as a cautionary tale to remind gun owners about the importance of handling firearms with care at all times.
Schoone emphasized, “Obviously, you should be treating every weapon as if it’s loaded. All the cardinal rules: keeping it in a safe direction, finger off the trigger. This was… the perfect storm. It was just the right place at the right time — or the wrong time.”
The police continue to investigate the incident, which they believe was a tragic accident.
