A 3-year-old child was shot in the face in the early morning hours on Wednesday after the boy's parents were jolted awake by the sound of a gunshot, according to police. The child's father, 32-year-old Moses Anthony Molina Sr., has since been charged in connection with the shooting, which authorities say involved his own firearm.
Parents Woken by Gunfire Before Discovering Child Hurt
According to the Courier-Post, the parents were asleep when they heard a gunshot and then found that their 3-year-old had been accidentally shot in the face. The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said the shooting happened at approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday. Molina was charged in connection with the incident, per the prosecutor's office.
Where exactly the shooting took place is described differently across local reports. The Courier-Post identifies the incident as occurring in Vineland, while Daily Voice reports that Bridgeton police responded to an address on East Avenue at 2:57 a.m., and NJ.com likewise lists Molina's address as East Avenue in Bridgeton. Hoodline could not independently resolve the discrepancy and is presenting both versions as reported.
Father Charged With Child Endangerment
NJ.com reports that Molina was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a second-degree offense. Investigators determined that the child had used Molina's firearm, which had been left in a bag on the floor, according to the same report. The outlet also reported that the child was in critical but stable condition, citing the Cumberland County prosecutor, and that the investigation remained ongoing as of publication.
Not an Isolated Case
The shooting echoes a case just a day earlier in Detroit, where a 2-year-old was critically injured after being hurt by an unsecured gun at home, according to CBS Detroit. In that incident, police said a 4-year-old child who was also present was not injured. No further details connecting the two cases have been reported.
No additional updates on the Cumberland County child's condition or the status of the investigation had been reported as of this writing. Hoodline will update this story as more information becomes available.
