Watch CBS News

Police: 2-Year-Old In Critical Condition After Accidentally Shooting Himself Inside Delaware Home

CLAYMONT, Del. (CBS) -- A two-year-old is in critical condition after police say he accidentally shot himself in the head inside a home in Delaware Tuesday morning.

Tuesday night the boy's older brother spoke briefly to reporters.

"He's doing good. He's better. He just went over to ICU. He is getting better right now," he said.

The shooting happened at about 10 a.m. in a home on Cliffside Court at the Valley Run Apartments in Claymont, Delaware.

According to investigators, officers with the New Castle County Police Department were called to the home for the report of a two-year-old who shot himself in the head.

Paramedics performed CPR at the scene and the child was eventually flown to Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in critical condition, where he remains at this time.

New Castle County Police Department officials said the child was at the home with his mother when the shooting occurred.

A neighbor, Bill Jennings, says, "I am praying for him. He was so happy-go-lucky. He spoke to everybody and was very friendly. "

Authorities are still trying to determine where the child found the gun and how much supervision he had.

Ofc. First Class Tracey Duffy says, "When officers arrived they performed life-saving measures and learned that the two-year-old and his mother were the only two in the residence at the time of the shooting."

Police collected evidence from the victim's home.

The shooting stunned neighbors.

"The baby he was cute. He was sweet as can be. He used to play out there with his dad," neighbor Cybil Pinkerton said.

It's still not clear how the two-year-old boy got his hands on the gun in the first place and where it was being kept in the house.

Police have not yet released the boy or his parents' names. At this time, no one has been charged.

You May Also Be Interested In:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.