BEIJING, Aug. 9 -- Police will probe into the BB gun shooting of a photographer who was staking out Britney Spears over the weekend.

    Paparazzi photographer Brad Diaz said he was struck in the thigh by a pellet on Saturday outside the mansion where the pregnant star was visiting and enjoying a party thrown for her.

    Diaz was treated at a nearby hospital and released a few hours.

    According to the Times, the paparazzo claimed the shot came from the direction of the pregnant popster's property.

    Pop star Britney Spears and her security staff denied knowledge on Monday of the pellet-gun shooting incident.

    "Britney didn't know anything about it. She had nothing to do with it," said Spears' publicist, Nicole King. Asked whether the singer's security was involved, King said "Oh no!"

    Such incidents usually draw little attention from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, but authorities say they were swamped with phone calls.

    "Because of the media attention, we'll probably put this on the front burner to settle the whole thing," said sheriff's Sgt. Robert Knudson.

    A detective will be assigned to the case Monday, authorities said. Enditem

(Agencies)