Man trying to kill rabid raccoon admits to shooting neighbor

CULPEPER, Va. - (AP) -- A Culpeper man has pleaded guilty to accidentally shooting his neighbor while trying to kill a raccoon that he thought had rabies.

The Culpeper Star-Exponent reports (http://bit.ly/2445CaO) 50-year-old Douglas Ward pleaded guilty last week to reckless handling of a firearm resulting in seriously bodily injury.

Ward was accused of shooting his neighbor in the arm in June 2015 while attempting to shoot what he felt was a rabid animal. The woman had gone outside after hearing gun shots when she was struck by one of the bullets.

She was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Ward's attorney couldn't be reached for comment Friday by the newspaper. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 9.
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Information from: Culpeper Star-Exponent, http://www.starexponent.com

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