5-Year-Old Child Injured In Shooting: Sheriff

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — A 5-year-old child was injured in what Jefferson County Sheriff's Office investigators say was an accidental shooting. The incident occurred Thursday just after 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the apartments at 3228 Westbrook Drive.

Sgt. Joni Money of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office reported that the child’s father said he left the child in his car while he briefly went inside. The father reported that when he returned he found the child covered in blood and drove him to the hospital.

After investigation, detectives said they believe that the child’s father had a small caliber pistol under the drivers seat that had slid to the back seat where the child found it and shot himself.

The boy’s father said that he initially gave another version of what happened because he did not have a permit for the pistol, Money said.

The child was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital. The Department of Human Resources was contacted to follow up on the welfare of the child.