The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was called to an accidental shooting on Sunday, June 19th.

Robert Avery, of Winamac, told police that he saw a chipmunk on a woodpile they have by the house and decided he was going to shoot at it. According to police, his girlfriend, Dawn Vanaman, knew he was going to shoot at it but she was trying to keep her kitten from running into the line of fire and instead, Dawn got into the line of fire. Avery reportedly told police that parts of the projectile shot from a rifle hit Dawn in the neck area. Vanaman was airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Vanaman told police that the shooting was an accident. Avery was reportedly drinking the day of the incident.

The reporting officer forwarded the case to the Detective’s Division for further review.