Huntington Story

Janice Jones is 53 years old and lives in Barstow, California, according to California Highway Patrol press liaison Tammy Rye.

Jones’ dog, a Pomeranian named Tombo, was placed in the care of the Huntington Beach Animal Control officers. The dog seemed to be malnourished, according to Janet Ngo, one of the animal control officers, and had fresh cigarette burns on its forehead. 

“It could have done with a little less abuse and a few more of those pork chops,” Ngo says.

"Jones was eating pork chops in the back of her motor home," Rye said, which was parked on Beach Boulevard near Highway 1, when her dog knocked her 9 mm handgun off a seat.

The weapon discharged when it hit the floor, and the bullet passed through Jones; leg and through the side of the vehicle, according to Rye. 

“It could have been worse,” Rye says. “The bullet hit two inches from the gas tank.”

Jones was shot in the right leg around 10 p.m. Wednesday, Rye said.

"Jones was transported to Huntington Beach Hospital via ambulance and later was transported to Irvine Medical Center, Rye says."

Rye said officers cited Jones for expired plates and the county’s district attorney’s office was considering whether to charge her in relation to the gun accident.  

"Jones didn’t even have a permit for the gun," Rye said.

Ngo indicated that her office would explore filing animal abuse charges against Jones.