Woman shoots at teenager 'trying to rape neighbour's dog'

Kerrie Lenkerd claims she spotted 14-year-old in his underwear sexually assaulting the animal, police say

Lenkerd allegedly fired a warning shot into the grass to scare the boy she accused of trying to sexually assault a dog (Centerton Police)

A US woman has been arrested after she allegedly shot at a 14-year-old boy who she accused of trying to rape her neighbour’s dog.

Kerrie Lenkerd told Centerton police she saw the boy in his underwear from the window of her Arkansas home sexually assaulting the animal in a neighbour’s garden, according to documents filed in Benton County Circuit Court, ArkansasOnline reports.

The 40-year-old said it was not the first time the boy had attacked the dog, so she approached him with a gun and ordered him to get down on the ground, her arrest warrant states.

When the boy tried to flee the scene, Lenkerd fired a warning shot into the grass to try to scare him, according to the report.

Neighbours corroborated the story, telling police they heard a gunshot and saw the boy running away, the document states.

The teenager, who has not been identified, told police Lenkerd pointed a gun at him and ordered him to put his hands up, according to her arrest warrant.

As she was not carrying a police badge, the boy said he decided to run and jumped over a fence to make his escape.

Lenkerd was charged with felony aggravated assault after being arrested on Tuesday.

She was taken to the Benton County Detention Centre but is now free after posting a $5,000 (£3,800) bond. Formal charges have yet to be filed and her arraignment is scheduled for 5 June.

Police also arrested the teenager who was charged with two counts of bestiality, according to local media.