AKRON, OH – A routine evening took a dangerous turn when an 8-year-old boy was accidentally shot by a playmate who was mishandling an unsecured firearm, police reports said. The incident occurred at an Akron residence in the 1100 block of Hardesty Boulevard.
The call was initially dispatched to a home on the 800 block of Leonard Street due to the fact the young boy’s mother had transported him there after the incident took place. Upon their arrival, Akron police identified a gunshot wound on the 8-year-old’s upper body.
The child was fully conscious and breathing when first responders came to the scene. Officers immediately deployed a chest seal as part of first aid.
The boy was then transported by EMS personnel to Akron Children’s Hospital, where he is reportedly in stable condition. His injuries are not expected to be life-threatening, according to reports from the police.
After conducting an investigation, it was revealed that the firearm had been left unsecured by the boy’s father, who held legal ownership of the gun.
The seeming negligence of not stowing the weapon safely led to it being accessible to the young children. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.