PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A 3-year-old boy is in critical condition after police say he was shot in the head inside his home in South Philadelphia.
It happened around 11 p.m. on Wednesday on the 2100 block of South 26th Street near Snyder Avenue.
Police say they received a 911 call about gunshots in that area and found a blood trail from the sidewalk that led into the child’s upstairs bedroom.
That’s when police say they learned the child had already been rushed to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in a private vehicle.
“We’re just hoping for the best for this child because he is shot in the head and he is in critical condition, undergoing surgery,” said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
According to police, officers found a magazine for a gun inside the home, but no weapon has been found.
Investigators say they are hearing conflicting stories from people who were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
“We’re getting some conflicting stories and conflicting information, which raises suspicions at this time,” said Small. “We want to find out exactly how this 3-year-old ended up with a gunshot wound to his head.”
Officers took at least three people in for questioning, Small said.
No arrests have been made at this time.
At this time, police are still unsure if this was an accidental shooting or not.
“I’ve said this many times. If there’s children in the house, they should not be able to get access to a gun,” Small said.
Officials stress that gun owners should keep their weapons secured in safes or lock boxes and bullets should be separated from the weapon.
The incident remains under investigation.
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