(KLZA)-- An investigation is underway by the Nebraska State Patrol and Nemaha County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Department following an incident Thursday evening in which a Deputy Sheriff fired his gun at a dog and shrapnel struck an individual.  

According to a news release from the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy responded to the area of 8th and “N” Streets in Auburn about 6:00 p.m. for a complaint of a reckless driver. 

The deputy initiated contact with an individual believed to have been involved with the reckless driving call.  The individual’s dog, initially chained up by the owner, broke loose and was aggressively coming toward the deputy.  The deputy shot at the dog and in doing so, a third party near the residence received a small laceration to his arm from what appeared to be a piece of shrapnel that had ricocheted.

Initially the individual struck by the shrapnel declined medical treatment.  Later at the request of law enforcement, the individual did go to the Nemaha County Hospital to be examined. 

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating the incident in relation to the individual that was injured.  The Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office is investigating in relation to the harboring of a potentially dangerous dog and the discharge of the deputy’s firearm resulting in the injury of a person, as it relates to Sheriff’s Office policy.

The identities of those involved have not been released