A Sunday night on San Antonio’s Northeast Side turned violent when a teenage boy was shot in the head inside a home and rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, according to police. Officers were called just after 8 p.m. to the 6400 block of Indigo Forest, where they found the wounded teen. Investigators at the scene told reporters the injury may have been accidental, and officers say the case remains under active investigation.
According to KSAT, a San Antonio police sergeant at the scene said the teen was transported to a local hospital in critical condition while officers processed the home and surrounding area for evidence. The outlet reported that investigators believe the shooting may have been accidental, and noted that additional details are expected as police continue their inquiry.
How common are accidental shootings?
Firearm injuries are now the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens, and unintentional discharges remain a tragically preventable slice of that toll. According to America's Health Rankings, firearm-related injuries surpassed motor-vehicle crashes as the top injury-related cause of death for those ages 1 to 19 in recent years. Research tracked by Everytown for Gun Safety highlights how many children live in homes with unlocked or loaded firearms and recommends locked, unloaded storage to reduce risk.
Recent trend on the Northeast Side
The Indigo Forest shooting lands on a growing list of violent incidents reported on the Northeast Side this winter. Last month, police said a 14-year-old boy was killed in a nearby Northeast Side neighborhood, according to KSAT. Together, these cases have sharpened long-running concerns about gun safety in neighborhood homes.
Legal note and resources
Under Texas law, making a firearm accessible to a child can be a crime if a child gains access because of criminal negligence. Penalties can escalate when a discharge causes serious injury or death, as outlined in Texas Penal Code §46.13. Locally, Bexar County’s BexarResponsibly campaign offers a toolkit and clear steps - secure it, store it, talk about it - for gun owners. Police have not released additional details as the investigation into Sunday’s shooting continues.
