On the morning of June 30, a 7-year-old child in Northaven was critically injured in an accidental shooting. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) reported to the scene in the 5300 block of Plover Drive after the incident occurred. The young boy was initially taken to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in critical condition, but was later reported to be in non-critical condition, FOX13 Memphis states.
A statement from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office clarified that, the child was holding a gun when it accidentally discharged. The incident now under investigation by local authorities, attempts to uncover precisely how the child came into contact with the firearm and what circumstances led to the discharge. According to a post on social media by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, updated around 5:30 p.m., the child was handling the weapon before it accidentally went off. This information was corroborated in reports by both Action News 5 and Local Memphis.
The Shelby County Fire Department swiftly took the child to the hospital, where he was later downgraded to non-critical condition, signifying some improvement in his initial critical injuries. The gun’s owner and what led up to the shooting are still being investigated. The child's identity hasn't been shared, but the sheriff’s office says the shooting was accidental. According to FOX13 Memphis, community support will be important for the family's and child's recovery.
