Man shoots armadillo, bullet hits mother-in-law

A man has accidentally shot his mother-in-law after the bullet he fired at an armadillo ricocheted and hit her.

Sheriffs in the States say 54-year-old Larry McElroy was outside when he fired his 9 mm pistol at an armadillo, killing it, on Sunday.

However, the bullet also bounced off the poor animal, hit a fence, went through the back door of his mother-in-law's mobile home, through a recliner she was sitting in, and into her back.

First Coast News say he was around 100 yards from the mobile home when it happened.

Fortunately, 74-year-old Carol Johnson was not severely injured. No charges have been filed.

"She was walking around on her own power and talking," said investigator Bill Smith with the Lee county Sheriff's Office. "It didn't appear to be too severe."

Pity the same can't be said of the armadillo.

Smith advised using a shotgun, and not a 9 mm pistol, as a safe way of getting rid of them.

Smith said: "I really think if they're going to shoot at varmints and whatnot, maybe use a shotgun...with a spread pattern with a lot less range."

Authorities also say another option is grub pesticide, which kills the insects that armadillos eat.

James Morgan, of the University of Georgia's Dougherty County Cooperative Extension said they actually recommend shooting or trapping armadillos.

H/T: First Coast News.