A northern New Jersey family is suing the U.S. Army over an errant projectile from Picatinny Arsenal that crashed through their roof in 2008 and killed their cat.

Frederick and Cheryl Angle filed the lawsuit Friday after rejecting a settlement offer of $7,400.

The 2-pound piece of shrapnel landed on the bed of one of the couple's three children, Cassandra, on April 11, 2008 and fatally injured Sarah the cat.

Lawyer Daniel Perez tells the New Jersey Herald Cassandra has since been afraid to sleep in her bed and her mother has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Perez says the lawsuit is about the government "shelling its own citizens."

The Army has a policy of not commenting on litigation.

The arsenal halted outdoor munitions testing after the accident.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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