Local News in Brief : 2 Shot After Row Over Dog’s Mess

A dispute between a Canoga Park man and his 10-year-old son over a mess made by a pet puppy escalated into a family argument in which a handgun held by the man went off and his wife and son were injured, Los Angeles police said Monday.

The boy, Randy Nater, was in guarded condition at Humana Hospital West Hills after he was shot in the abdomen at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, police said. The boy’s mother, Lylliam Nater, 33, was treated at the hospital for a graze wound in the neck and released.

Joel Nater, 32, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after the shooting. He was released on $12,000 bail Monday morning.

The shooting occurred during an argument that began when the boy refused his father’s order to clean up the mess left by the puppy in a bathroom, police said.

“The next thing you know (Joel Nater) went into a bedroom and got the gun,” Lt. William Gaida said. “He was waving it around and was angry.”

Both parents said the gun went off accidentally, but the case will be presented to the district attorney’s office for possible filing of charges, police said.