Canadian man hears noise, grabs rifle, but stumbles and shoots family cat

Residents of a Red Deer neighbourhood escaped injury when a neighbour accidentally fired a rifle inside his home, but the stray bullet killed his family's cat. It happened at 6:15 a.m. on Sunday on McCullough Crescent on Red Deer's south side.

Police have laid firearms charges against the man. Investigators said the accused was inside his house and loaded a rifle after hearing what he believed was a suspicious noise in the home. The RCMP said the man stumbled while walking through the house, inadvertently pulling the trigger and firing a shot that fatally wounded the family cat, which was in another room.

The bullet continued through an exterior wall of the house before hitting a neighbouring home. Investigators said the bullet missed the man's wife and children, residents living in a basement suite, as well as people in the neighbouring house.

Although police said alcohol played a role in the incident, they didn't elaborate on what led the man to arm himself. Daryl Brownell, 31, has been charged with careless use of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon and unauthorized possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 13.