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Bullet grazes child in accidental shooting
FOX 13's Jennifer Holton reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - A 6-year-old is recovering after Tampa police say he was grazed in the leg by a bullet fired by a 4-year-old.
The gun had been discovered by the child under the sofa in their home.
Police said they received word that a 6-yer-old child had been taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound after 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Officers went to the home on E. Frierson Ave to investigate, where they learned a 15-year-old friend of the homeowner's relatives left the firearm in the house under the sofa.
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That's where the toddler found the gun, police said.
"A 4-year-old finds this weapon and goes into a room where there is a room full of people, including this 6-year-old child, and accidentally fires off the weapon, grazing the 6-year-old," said Jamel Lanee with Tampa police. "And of course the child was taken to the hospital by a relative."
Investigators said the child is recovering and doing OK after the incident.
Officers arrested the 15-year-old on Tuesday. Lanee said police are still trying to determine just how the teen was in possession of a gun.
"The family, they’ve been cooperating with us, and we’ve spoken with the 15-year-old," Lanee said. "He realized he made a very bad mistake by leaving the weapon, and unfortunately now, this 15-year-old is going to be facing charges."
Those charges include culpable negligence, a third-degree felony, and minor in possession of a firearm, which is a misdemeanor.