Submitted by Robert L. Haddock

Note: This article appeared in the Temple Daily Telegram-date unknown-rlh

Man in hospital after dog
reportedly shoots him in leg

     Lott - A Falls County man was in fair condition Wednesday evening at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple after being shot in the leg Wednesday afternoon. The man told police his dog was responsible.

     At 4:30 p.m. Falls County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call that a man in a pick-up truck in Lott had been shot.

     "We dispatched Lt. John Flores of the Lott Police Department", said J. J. Anastasio, Chief Deputy of Falls County Sheriff's Department.

     Flores, Falls County EMS, officers from Texas Department of Public Safety and Falls County Sheriff's Department responded to the call.

     Chris Howard of Cego had stopped in front of Falls Farm and Auto Parts at the intersection of U. S. Highway 77 and Highway 7 in Lott. A store employee went outside, saw the injured Howard, and made the emergency call.

     When Flores arrived, he found the 28 year-old Falls County man in his truck, wounded and in great pain.

     Howard had a .222 rifle and his dog with him in the cab. He told officers that while he was parked and talking to someone his dog jumped on the rifle, triggered the firing mechanism, and caused him to be shot in the leg.

     Howard told Flores the accident happened at Durango, five miles west of Lott.

     Howard had been shot throught the upper right thigh and the bullet hit an artery, a vein, and the thighbone, reported Anastasio.

     Falls County EMS gave Howard medical attention, and due to his condition and substantial blood loss, called Scott and White for a helicopter evacuation. Officers directed the helicopter to a landing at a nearby intersection and the man was flown to the hospital.

     Anastasio said the Lott Police Department was investigating the incident as an accidental shooting.