he incident had a lot of people scratching their heads- even law enforcement.

"Just the circumstances, just all the way around, the whole situation was unusual," said Investigator Bill Smith with the Lee county Sheriff's Office.

The shooting happened Sunday night on Gosa Road.

Lee County Sheriff's deputies said 54-year-old Larry McElroy was outside when he fired his 9 mm pistol at the armadillo. The bullet killed the animal, but also ricocheted off of it, hit a fence, went through the back door of his mother-in-law's mobile home, through a recliner she was sitting in, and into her back.

According to a report, McElroy was about 100 yards away from the home at the time.

McElroy's mother-in-law, 74-year-old Carol Johnson was fortunately not severely injured.

"She was walking around on her own power and talking," said Smith. "It didn't appear to be too severe. They took her to Phoebe North [hospital]."

James Morgan, the Dougherty County Extension Coordinator said they actually recommend shooting armadillos for residents that live in the county, or a trap can be used to capture them.