A 3-year-old boy was critically injured in a shooting at a home in South Philadelphia. The boy’s uncle, a 17-year-old juvenile, has been charged.
Juvenile Shooter Already On Supervision
The shooting happened on Wednesday April 2. It eventually came to light that the individual connected to the shooting was the child’s uncle, who at the time was on juvenile suspension, with prosecutor Anthony Voci stating this was related to a separate gun offense.
The unnamed 17-year-old faces felony weapon offense charges, along with possession of a firearm.
Charges Laid Out
Anthony Voci laid out the charges in a press conference last Thursday. He also clarified that the gun involved in the shooting is currently missing.
“He’s been charged with recklessly endangering another person,” said Voci. “He’s also been charged with tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice because the gun that injured the child is nowhere to be found.”
Voci also noted that a nonfunctioning “ghost” gun was found at the South Philly home but that this was unrelated to the shooting in question.
Three other people who were inside the house at the time of the shooting were initially interviewed by police before being allowed home.
Accidental Shooting in the Home That Reminds People to be Vigilant
Sources say that the shooting was an accident, with the boy shooting himself after taking posession of a gun that was in the house.
The gun is said to be owned by the boy’s 17-year-old uncle, who has been charged with recklessly endangering a child.
The incident caught the attention of the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia. Their head of victim services, Tone Barr, asked families to be on the lookout for any unsecured weapons that may be in their homes.
“When you hear about a 3-year-old being shot, this is the time that he should be in the house, playing with toys, being outside playing, just being an innocent child.”
Locals React With Shock
The boy was taken to a children’s hospital in Philadelphia, where he remains in critical condition. Locals told the media that they were “scared” and praying that the boy is okay.
Neighbors also reported seeing the boy playing in the garden earlier that day, which makes the incident even more shocking.
Others admitted they could understand that the parents were being blamed for allowing guns near their child but that mistakes happen. As a counter point, other neighbors that were interviewed questioned why the owners of the property hadn’t invested in gun locks.
Investigation Continues – Gun Still Missing
The shooting of a 3-year-old boy can cause horror and anxiety in any community. In this particular case, there is thought to be no wider threat to the public, with the alleged person responsible currently in custody.
The police have no other suspects. The 17-year-old faces multiple weapons charges, along with endangering children. As of the time of writing, the investigation continues, with the police still looking for the missing gun connected to the shooting.
Image sourced from Wiki Commons
