A Culpeper man has pleaded guilty to accidentally shooting his neighbor while trying to kill a raccoon that he thought had rabies.
Douglas Ward, 50, pleaded guilty last week to reckless handling of a firearm resulting in seriously bodily injury, the Culpeper Star-Exponent reports.
Ward was accused of shooting his neighbor in the arm in June 2015 while attempting to shoot what he thought 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.
Copyright The Associated Press
