Woman narrowly escapes death after bullet 'bounces' off her head

Her neighbour has been arrested and police think drugs and alcohol may have been involved

A bullet was fired from a gun into the woman's home (File) (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A woman had a lucky escape from an accidental shooting after a bullet “bounced” off her head, police said.

The unnamed victim was sat on her sofa in her living room at her home in Redmond, Oregon, when the shot was fired.

The couch had previously been situated next to where the bullet first entered her house and she had only rearranged her furniture a week earlier.

The bullet slowed by the time it reached her, having made contact with several other objects.

Redmond police Lt. Curtis Chambers told the Bend Bulletin: “She had a knot on her head. You could feel it, but it didn’t bleed or puncture anything.”

Adding that the injury was superficial, he said: “It was like having a small rock thrown at you.”

The 9mm bullet, a calibre often used in handguns, slowed significantly after it was first discharged by the woman’s neighbour, Ryan Pine.

The round travelled through at least two walls, a fence and a picture frame before it made contact with the woman.

Police said it was “not exactly clear” why Mr Pine fired the weapon, but said drugs and alcohol appeared to be involved, the Bulletin reported.

Mr Pine was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

The woman may have suffered more extensive injuries had her furniture been in the same place it was in a week before the incident.

“It’s possible it could have struck her immediately and caused more of an injury,” Lt. Chambers told the newspaper.