Man accidentally shot roommate after teasing cat with laser

An man from Onalaska in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, is accused of shooting his roommate in the leg after using the handgun’s laser sight to tease his cat.

Vaughn Rothering, 22, told police his cat was chasing the laser on the porch of his house in Onalaska before he spun the gun in his hand, according to the complaint filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court.



The Glock 9mm handgun fired while Rothering was “messing around with it,” and lodged a bullet in his roommates’ ankle, the complaint stated. The victim was treated at Gundersen Health System.

The shooting was reported on May 11, although Rothering made his first court appearance on Friday on a felony charge of injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. He returns to court at a later date.