Police: Man Shoots Self While Trying To Combat Raccoon

NEW HAVEN — An 81-year-old man accidentally shot himself while trying to
combat a raccoon, police said.

Officers responded to Yale-New Haven Hospital shortly after 8 p.m.
Saturday regarding a shooting, police said. When they arrived, James
Pace Sr. told officers he had been having a problem with a large raccoon
scratching at his back door.

Pace told police he armed himself with a .22 caliber rifle and waited
for the raccoon to show, but while waiting, he sneezed and fell out of
his chair. Police said it was then he realized he had accidentally shot
himself in the shin.

Pace's son drove him to the hospital for treatment. His injuries are
non-life threatening, police said. Detectives are investigating.

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The raccoon, I hope, is laughing his ass off...