A 3-year-old boy was in critical condition on Friday after he accidentally shot himself inside a New Jersey home, police said.
Authorities were called to the residence in Newark to investigate reports of gunfire on Thursday around 5:45 p.m., WABC reported. When they arrived on the scene, on Wainwright Street near Bragaw Avenue, they discovered three children, one of who was suffering from a gunshot wound, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Frage said.
The child, who was not identified, was rushed to the nearby University Hospital, where he remains in critical condition, according to authorities.
The other two children on the scene were not physically harmed, police said. It’s not clear whether any adults were present at the time of the shooting, but the owner of a nearby shop told News 12 New Jersey that the victim’s older brother came into their business to use their phone and call 911.
After a preliminary investigation, officers determined the boy’s gunshot wound was likely self-inflicted. They also believe the shooting was accidental.
Frage told reporters a gun was recovered at the scene, but he did not provide further details. It’s unclear how exactly the child got his hands on the firearm.
An investigation into the matter is ongoing.
