Police: 10-Year-Old Boy Accidentally Shoots Himself With Father's Gun
By Mike Dougherty, Steve Patterson
SHARON HILL, Pa. (CBS) -- Police in Darby Township, Delaware County say a 10-year-old boy got his hands on his father's gun and accidentally shot himself in the face.
It happened around 10:30 p.m. Saturday along the 1400 block of Calcon Hook Road.
Authorities say the boy and his sister were inside the car -- waiting for their dad to get off work -- when the boy found the .357 magnum, pulled the trigger and accidentally shot himself in the face.
"(The bullet) entered his right jaw," said Darby Township Police Chief Leonard McDevitt, "and I believe the exit wound was actually on the back of his head."
McDevitt said the boy's sister ran inside to tell her dad what happened and call 9-1-1.
"He was lifeless at the time we arrived," the chief said. "One officer drove, one officer performed CPR in the back of the car. They got him to the nearest trauma center which was Fitzgerald Mercy, and he actually was revived."
The boy was then airlifted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in extremely critical condition. He was later upgraded to stable but guarded condition.
McDevitt said there were no signs of foul play.
There was no immediate word from the district attorney on whether or not charges would be filed against the father.
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