Tennessee Man Accidentally Shot by His Dog While in Bed

A Tennessee man was accidentally shot in the leg by his own dog while lying in bed. The Memphis Police Department responded to a call regarding an accidental injury at a residence on Whitney Avenue just before 4 a.m. on Monday.

The victim, 39-year-old Jerald Kirkwood, stated that his one-year-old pit bull, Oreo, jumped onto the bed and inadvertently discharged a firearm. According to Kirkwood, the dog’s paw became stuck in the trigger guard, causing the weapon to fire and graze his upper left thigh.

A woman who was in bed with Kirkwood at the time reportedly took the firearm and left the scene after the incident. She later described the dog as playful and prone to jumping around, which she believed contributed to the accident.

Responding officers discovered a spent shell casing on the front room floor. When asked about the location of the weapon, Kirkwood informed police that his female companion had taken it when she left.

The woman later advised gun owners to ensure firearm safety measures, such as keeping the safety on or using a trigger lock, to prevent similar incidents.

This case adds to a series of accidental shootings involving pets. In 2023, a man in Kansas was fatally shot during a hunting trip when a dog stepped on a rifle, triggering the firearm. Other incidents include a 2017 case in Iowa, where a pheasant hunter was injured by a dog that inadvertently discharged a shotgun, and a 2018 incident in New Mexico, where a man suffered serious injuries after his rottweiler mix accidentally fired a rifle, striking him in the back.