Man kills armadillo, but shot hits in-law

A US man has killed an armadillo in the US state of Georgia, but the ricochet gunshot hit his mother-in-law.

A US man shot an armadillo, but ended up accidentally wounding his mother-in-law when the bullet ricocheted off the mammal known for its hard shell.

Sheriff's deputies have told WALB-TV that 54-year-old Larry McElroy fired his 9mm pistol at the armadillo in the state of Georgia.

Deputies say the bullet killed the armadillo, but bounced off the animal, hit a fence, travelled through the back door of the mother-in-law's mobile home and the recliner in which she was sitting, striking her in the back.

McElroy's 74-year-old mother-in-law, Carol Johnson, suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening.

McElroy was about 90 metres away from the home when he shot the armadillo.