Going after a raccoon, town of Russell woman accidentally shoots herself in the leg

Marina Affo | Sheboygan Press

SHEBOYGAN - A woman accidentally shot herself in the leg Thursday morning after trying to shoot at a raccoon, police say.

According to Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Blaine Spicer, a call came in at 9:04 a.m. from the town of Russell from a woman who had shot herself in the thigh. The 67-year-old female had been shooting at a raccoon in her backyard with a .22-caliber pistol, according to the sheriff's department; when she went to reload, the gun discharged and shot her in the right thigh.

Sheriff's officers were first on the scene. An officer placed a tourniquet to stop the bleeding while other emergency services arrived, according to the sheriff's department. Kiel Ambulance Service, the Orange Cross, St. Anna Fire Department and Flight for Life all assisted at the scene.

The woman was flown via Flight for Life to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah in Neenah. According to county officials, the woman is in stable condition.