Detroit Boy, 8, Shot In Head With Unsecured Gun Inside Home: Police

DETROIT — A boy is in critical condition after he was shot in the head with an unsecured gun inside a Detroit home Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Detroit Police Chief James White said the 8-year-old boy was inside a home in the 14800 block of Snowden Street near Schaefer Road and Lyndon Street at noon when the shooting happened.

White said investigations do not know if the child shot himself or if another child shot the 8-year-old. He also said there were four other children, ages 1 through 8 and four adults inside the home where the shooting happened.

White said the adults were sleeping at noon when the shooting happened.

Additionally, White said the adults waited 30 minutes to call police after the shooting happened.

"Certainly that concerns us," White told reporters near the home where the shooting happened. "When you've got an 8-year-old shot, it seems like everyone would be either taking the child to the hospital or calling 911."

Investigators do not know how a child got a hold of the gun and were still looking for the firearm used in the shooting, White said.

Officers said one of the adults in the home was previously arrested for illegally carrying a weapon.

"We know he frequently carries guns and that he has multiple guns," White said.

Investigators also determined that Child Protective Services had also been to the home before with the most recent visits just a few weeks ago, police said.

"This is a very tragic and sad situation," White said. "We've been here too many times and here we are again."