The Ohio police officer who missed when he shot at a charging 40lb dog and accidentally hit a four-year-old girl in the right leg has been identified as a five-year veteran of the force. 

The girl, who has been identified as Ava Ellis, was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital and is expected to recover after being shot by Columbus officer Jonathan Thomas on Friday afternoon.

It is unclear whether the girl was hit directly or by ricochet and Thomas has been put on paid leave.  

Ava Ellis was struck by a bullet after Columbus officer Jonathan Thomas missed when he shot at a dog in Ohio

The girl was struck in her right leg during the incident in Whitehall (pictured left, a sign posted outside the family's home). The incident occurred after Thomas left neighbor Gary Parsley II's home (right)

Thomas was investigating a hit-and-run case when he heard cries for help from a nearby home in Whitehall regarding the girl's mother, who had cut herself, the Columbus Dispatch said. 

When the officer tried to enter the home to provide help, the family's mixed-breed dog charged at him in the doorway, said Columbus Police Department spokeswoman Denise Alex-Bouzounis.

He fired off a shot but missed as the bullet accidentally struck the girl instead, NBC4 reported. 

'The officer fires one shot at the dog, misses the dog and accidentally shoots a four-year-old in the leg,' Alex-Bouzounis told 10tv.

The child's mother, Andrea Ellis, was taken to Ohio Health Grant Medical Center for treatment following the incident.

Neighbor Gary Parsley II said the patrol officer had gone to his house to follow up with him after he had been struck by a car.

As the officer left Parsley's home and was returning to his car, the girl's aunt called out to him and said Ellis had cut herself and was bleeding, Alex-Bouzounis said.

The officer walked over to the house, which is only a few feet away, and moments later Parsley said he heard a gun shot.

As Thomas tried to enter the home to provide help, the family's mixed-breed dog charged him in the doorway

'The officer fires one shot at the dog, misses the dog and accidentally shoots a four-year-old in the leg,' said Columbus Police Department spokeswoman Denise Alex-Bouzounis after the Friday afternoon incident

Parsley said in the scene that followed the girl was carried out of the home by one of the paramedics.

'She had a blanket around her and there was a little bit of blood on the blanket, but she seemed to be conscious,' Parsley said.

'Her head was poking around [and] she wasn't, like, screaming or crying that I could tell.'

Police are investigating the incident and the five-year veteran has since been placed on paid leave

He also said he does not know why the officer raised a gun during the incident.

'[The officer] was a big guy and they have tasers and clubs and stuff,' Parlsey told 10tv. 'I don't know why you would raise a gun. I really don't agree with him just pulling his gun out and trying to shoot the dog.'

Neighbor Cole Baker, who has children living in his home, shared the same sentiment.

'I was pretty mad. I was pretty upset,' he said when learning of the incident.

'They should have better training for situations like this,' Baker added.  

The child was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital (pictured) and is expected to recover