A woman was struck in the forearm Tuesday evening after her neighbor accidentally shot her.

According to Topeka Police Sgt. Steve Roth, a man was cleaning a rifle in the Willow Run apartments at 5239 S.W. West on Tuesday evening. The man had removed the magazine from the rifle and didn’t realize a bullet was already in the chamber, he said.

"He set it down, the bullet went forward and the gun went off," he said.

The bullet traveled through the man’s TV and apartment wall and struck a woman who was returning to her apartment after grocery shopping, Roth said. The bullet passed through her right forearm. The victim was transported by AMR to a local hospital, but her injuries didn’t appear to be life-threatening, he said.

Roth said police who were searching with flashlights in front of the apartment were looking for the bullet as additional evidence, but he didn’t anticipate any charges would be filed because the man didn’t have any criminal intent. He said the man was "shaken up" and officers were letting him calm down before speaking with him again.

"He’s very remorseful," he said.