14-year-old boy shoots self in the head after finding unsecured gun at home
By Olivia Kalentek, Olivia Schueller and Rob Polansky
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WATERTOWN, Connecticut (WFSB) — A 14-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the head after getting his hands on an unsecured firearm at a home in Watertown, police said.
It happened around around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at a home on Hadley Street in the town’s Oakville neighborhood.
The teen was taken to the hospital. Police said he was in critical but stable condition.
According to Watertown police Chief Joshua Bernegger, the teen was found by his grandmother to have fallen stairs. He appeared to have a head injury.
“The 911 call was placed by the child’s grandmother, who had just arrived at the residence,” Bernegger said. “Prior to the grandmother arriving, the boy had been home alone.”
First responders reported that they found the teen heavily bleeding from his head.
“The boy was conscious, but incoherent,” the chief said.
Officers followed a blood trail to an upstairs bedroom.
“A significant amount of blood was found in this bedroom, along with an empty holster for a revolver,” Bernegger said.
It was later discovered that the teen went into an adults bedroom and got his hands on a 22 caliber revolver, which accidentally went off while he played with it.
It struck the boy in the head. Police said it appeared to be accidental.
A search of the home revealed 23 firearms, many of which police said were unsecured. Bernegger said two or three of them were actually properly stored.
Police said they were still trying to figure out exactly who owned the guns and if they were legally owned in the first place.
Ethan’s Law requires all homes in Connecticut with minors to safely store all loaded and unloaded guns.
“Our message to every gun owner is this: Secure your firearms in accordance with the law,” Bernegger said. “That means in a locked container where any person not eligible to posses that firearm cannot access it.”
Police said the teen’s mother and grandparents lived in the home.
Bernegger said Ethan’s Law may come into play in the case.
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