The Suspect in This Nebraska Shooting Had Four Legs and a Tail

When deputies responded to a shooting in the parking lot of a convenience store in Nebraska, they were unable to identify a human suspect because the shooter turned out to be a dog.

The unusual incident occurred shortly after noon in the city of Scottsbluff, authorities said.

Deputies found a truck with damage to one of its doors at the scene. A woman reported that she had been struck in the arm by a pellet from a shotgun blast.

According to investigators, the dog’s owner left a loaded shotgun in the backseat of a vehicle before entering the convenience store located at 2002 Avenue I. The dog remained inside the vehicle.

​As the dog moved around on the seats, it accidentally triggered the firearm, causing it to discharge. The blast damaged the vehicle and struck a passerby nearby. The victim was transported to a hospital with minor injuries and is expected to recover, The Mirror U.S. reported.

Police said a shotgun pellet struck the upper portion of her right arm.

​Authorities have not released details about the dog’s breed, the identity of its owner, or the charges against her. The investigation remains ongoing, they said.

Police said the incident was initially reported as involving a BB gun, but responding deputies were later informed that it involved a shotgun, according to KNOP.

​No other injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, authorities in Nebraska responded to a separate and unrelated incident involving a fatal police shooting.

In an unrelated incident in Nebraska, a woman was fatally shot by police after authorities said she kidnapped a 3-year-old boy from a Walmart and attacked him with a knife.

​According to Deputy Chief Scott Gray, the suspect allegedly approached a female shopper and the child inside the store before displaying a large knife that she had allegedly shoplifted. Police said she then took control of the boy and left the store, effectively kidnapping him.

​The suspect and the child’s guardian remained outside the store for several minutes, where witnesses reported a verbal confrontation while authorities were called to the scene.

​After receiving a 911 call, officers arrived and repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop the knife. Instead, police said she began slashing at the child, cutting him across the face.

At least one officer opened fire, striking the woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

​Body-camera footage later released by police showed the woman raising a knife over the young boy, who was seated in a shopping cart, while an officer aimed a firearm at her.

​The child suffered a large laceration to the left side of his face and an injury to one hand. Authorities said he was hospitalized and is expected to survive.