PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 17-year-old has been charged by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office after they said his 3-year-old nephew accidentally shot himself in the head in his South Philadelphia home Wednesday night using one of his guns. Authorities said they are still looking for the gun, and asked family members for help locating the weapon to aid the ongoing investigation.
Around 11 p.m. Wednesday night, police responded to Wilson Park Apartments, a Philadelphia Housing Authority complex at 26th Street and Snyder Avenue. Officers were told that a 3-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in a second-floor bedroom.
Family members carried the boy out of the property, leaving behind a trail of blood, and they got him in a car and rushed him to the hospital. He had surgery and was listed in critical condition, police said.
Investigators said there were inconsistencies when talking to several family members, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.
“We’re getting some conflicting stories and some conflicting information, which raises suspicions at this time,” Small said. “We transported three males separately to police headquarters just to be questioned, just to find out exactly what occurred. We’re trying to get to the truth.”
They had to wait for a search warrant before they could go through the home.
"When the police responded to the scene, the gun that was used was nowhere to be found," said Assistant District Attorney Anthony Voci, who is handling the case. "There was a second gun in that room in a shoebox and it was a ghost gun that was inoperable."
The teen faces gun charges as well as tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice and reckless endangerment.
Authorities said they are still searching for the gun the 3-year-old used.
Authorities said they are still searching for the gun the 3-year-old used.
