Police in Scottsbluff, Nebraska say a black lab accidentally fired a loaded shotgun from inside a parked truck, blasting through the passenger-side door and striking a woman stopped at a traffic light. The injury to her upper right arm wasn’t life-threatening,
For a moment in Scottsbluff on Saturday, the only thing that made sense was the sound—then the police found what caused it.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting near a convenience store and discovered a parked truck with damage from a shotgun blast that ripped through the passenger-side door. The investigation turned stranger by the minute: law enforcement says a dog inside the truck—reportedly a black lab—was left behind while the owner stepped away.
Investigators say the owner went into the store to buy some items. During that time, the dog was reportedly sitting in the back seat when it allegedly moved from one side of the truck to the other. Police say the movement somehow triggered a loaded shotgun, which then fired through the door.
The blast struck a woman who was stopped nearby at a traffic light, with her arm hanging out the window. Police say the pellet hit her upper right arm, and her injury was not life-threatening. A family member drove her to a hospital for treatment.
Police say they’re still investigating how the shotgun was set up and exactly how the dog’s movement led to the accidental discharge. They also reminded Nebraskans that it’s illegal in the state to travel with a loaded shotgun inside a vehicle.
Scottsbluff Nebraska black lab accidental shotgun parked truck convenience store traffic light injury police investigation dog incident
How does a dog even “trigger” a shotgun…
Sounds like the owner left a loaded thing in the truck and blamed the dog. I mean dogs move around but a shotgun just shouldn’t go off like that, right?
Wait so the woman at the traffic light had her arm out the window and got hit, but they’re worried about the dog moving? Like wouldn’t they be more worried about the truck setup? Also Nebraskans can’t even have loaded shotguns in vehicles?? guess that’s why.
I don’t buy it. A black lab “moved” and then a loaded shotgun magically fired through the door while the guy was in the store. Feels like there’s missing details like was it leaned or something? Also how was the shotgun even in a truck pointed at the street… seems unsafe to me regardless. Hopefully that woman’s ok though, upper arm can still mess you up.