Police in Georgia say a man shot an armadillo, but ended up accidentally wounding his 74-year-old mother-in-law when the bullet ricocheted off the animal's shell. Lee County Sheriff's deputies said that 54-year-old Larry McElroy fired his 9mm pistol at the animal on Sunday night when he saw the vermin in his Leesburg backyard. While one bullet killed the armadillo, deputies say another bounced off the armored animal, hit a fence, traveled through the back door of the mother-in-law's mobile home and the recliner she was sitting in and struck her in the back. According to police reports, McElroy fired 100-yards away from Johnson's home. Accident: Larry McElroy shot Carol Johnson on Sunday night after he tried to kill an armadillo in his backyard . McElroy's mother-in-law, Carol Johnson suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was talking all the way to the hospital. 'Just the circumstances, just all the way around, the whole situation was unusual,' said Investigator Bill Smith to WALB.Com. '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.' Unusual: Lee County Sheriff's investigator, Bill Smith advised Mr. McElroy to use a shotgun the next time he wanted to kill an armadillo . Battle hardened: Armadillo's are known for their armored shells which protect them in the wild against bears and wild cats . Lee County Sheriff's department said they recommend using a shotgun to kill vermin. 'I really think if they're going to shoot at varmints and whatnot, maybe use a shotgun.. with a spread pattern with a lot less range,' Smith said.
Larry McElroy shot his 74-year-old mother-in-law Carol Johnson on Sunday . Johnson was sat inside her mobile home 100-yards away from McElroy .