Uncle Charged After Child Shot 5-Year Old Brother In Ford Heights

FORD HEIGHTS, IL – A Ford Heights man faces several misdemeanor charges after police say his gun was used when an 8-year-old boy accidentally shot his 5-year-old brother at a home in the far south suburb Monday morning.

Deputies with the Cook County Sheriff's Office arrived at a home in the 1100 block of Drexel at 11:25 a.m., when they found the 5-year-old who suffered a gunshot wound. The boy was taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, where he remains two days later in critical condition.

Detectives at the scene learned that the boy was shot by his 8-year-old brother in the bedroom of their uncle, Mikaehl Allen, who was not at home at the time of the shooting. A third young boy in the bedroom at the time of the shooting was not harmed.

Other adults were at the home, but police say all were sleeping when the children found the gun.

The gun used is a 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistol, a weapon owned by Allen that was left fully loaded under a mattress in the bedroom. Also under the mattress, police found an AK-47 and shot gun that were fully loaded as well. AR-15 parts were also located at that spot.

Allen, 21, had a valid FOID card. He was charged the day after the shooting with child endangerment and allowing a minor access to a firearm, both misdemeanors.

Other misdemeanor charges of cruel treatment and violation of owner's duties were also levied against Allen in connection to the condition of two dogs found at the home during the police shooting investigation.

According to detectives, male and female boxer-mix dogs owned by Allen were found emaciated and with wounds caused by insects.

Photos via Cook County Sheriff's Office