ATCHISON, Kan. (AP) Authorities say a 3-year-old boy has been flown to a hospital with an abdominal wound after an apparent accidental shooting in an Atchison home.
The Atchison Globe reports that the authorities responded Tuesday after the boys mother reported that her son had discovered a gun in the residence, picked it up, and began handling it. The gun went off as he was handling it.
Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson said further details on how the boy came to find the gun and who it belongs to cant be discussed at this time pending an investigation. Wilson says the cause of the discharge appears to be accidental.
The boy initially was taken to Atchison Hospital and from there was flown to Childrens Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
The child was conscious, wasnt screaming or yelling, and was talking to us, Wilson said. He was a brave little man who had received a serious injury. And he was communicating to us as we were trying to help him.
A very tragic situation of course, the mother was very upset at this tragedy, Wilson said. So, we were trying to take care of her, too, along with the child. And that was done, it was done very quickly. But now it is time for the investigation to continue.
