Published: May 21, 2008 04:37 pm            

Child suffers gunshot wound

DANVILLE — Police say a 10-year-old Danville boy is lucky to be alive, following an accidental shooting Tuesday afternoon.

Danville Police Col. Jerry Cunningham said police and firefighters were dispatched around 3:30 p.m. to 579 Chestnut St. on a report of gunshot injury.

He said a 12-year-old boy, who lived in the home, was playing with his 10-year-old neighbor when they found a gun. Cunningham said the gun was in a locked cabinet inside the parents’ bedroom, and they are not yet sure how the boys got the cabinet open. Authorities are also not sure if the boys loaded the gun or if it was already loaded.

He said the boys were playing with the gun when it went off, striking the 10-year-old in the upper chest.

Cunningham said the bullet — believed to be a .25 caliber — hit between the collarbone and the breast bone, before exiting from the back.

“EMS is optimistic it didn’t hit anything vital,” he added.

The boy was taken to Hendricks Regional Health in Danville for treatment, and later flown to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

Cunningham said doctors are expecting the boy to pull through.

“This kid is very fortunate to be alive,” he added.

amanda.roach@flyergroup.com

        

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