Memphis Man Accidentally Shot by His Own Dog After Pit Bull Jumps on Bed and Triggers Loaded Gun
MEMPHIS, TENN. — A Memphis man was accidentally shot by his own dog after the pet jumped on his bed and triggered a loaded gun, police reported Wednesday.
The victim, who was sleeping beside his partner, sustained a minor graze wound to his left thigh in the early hours of Monday morning. He was treated at a hospital and later released.
According to the police report, the one-year-old pit bull, named Oreo, got its paw stuck in the trigger guard, causing the firearm to discharge. Authorities classified the case as an “accidental injury,” without specifying the type of weapon involved.
While gun violence is a major issue in the United States, incidents of pets firing weapons remain rare. In past cases, a German shepherd in Kansas fatally shot its owner in 2022, and a pit bull-Labrador mix in Iowa injured its owner in 2018.
The Memphis victim’s girlfriend, speaking to Fox 13 Memphis, said she was asleep when the gun went off. “The dog is playful—he likes to jump around—and it just happened,” she said, adding her key takeaway: “Keep the safety on or use a trigger lock.”
AFP
