DETROIT (WWJ) -- A 16-year-old Detroit boy has been charged in connection with the non-fatal shooting of his 2-year-old brother.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced Friday the juvenile allegedly had the handgun unsecured in his bedroom when his younger brother found it and shot himself.
The 16-year-old has been charged with one count of careless discharge of a firearm causing injury.
Officials said the teenager has a history of gun violence.
On Thursday, at approximately 2:50 a.m., Detroit police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 440 block of Alameda Street for a reported shooting.
Upon their arrival, officers located the young child inside the home with graze gunshot wounds to the head and to the left arm.
Medics ended up arriving on the scene and transported the 2-year-old boy to a local hospital for treatment.
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Detroit Police Chief James White said the community should "be outraged that a child had easy access to an unsecured weapon."
"The only good news is that this child will survive," White said, per a press release. "Just a few months ago I said we must do more to protect the most vulnerable in our community and prevent senseless acts of gun violence. I’m fed up and angry. Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. This is not acceptable. As a community, we must do some soul-searching and rise up together to say enough is enough.”
The juvenile defendant, whose name will not be released to do this age, was arraigned before a court referee on Friday and remanded to the Juvenile Detention Facility. His next hearing is set for May 11 in the the Lincoln Hall of Justice.
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