GIRARD — A four-year-old boy was hospitalized Monday night after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a juvenile asking for a ride Monday evening and located a 14-year-old male walking South on 130th Street. According to CRSO, he had left his residence and said he needed a ride to Pittsburg because his brother had been shot.
CRSO contacted Girard Medical Center and discovered the boy’s mother and his 4-year-old brother were already at the hospital, where his brother was being treated for a gunshot wound to the face.
According to CRSO, the 4-year-old found a .22 caliber revolver in the 14-year-old’s room and discharged it, striking himself in the chin. The revolver was found to be loaded with only one shell, which was spent. The shell was a .22 caliber blank — often used in a nail gun for construction purposes.
The four year old was transferred to a hospital in Joplin. He was expected to be released Tuesday.
The 14 year old was taken into protective custody.
The incident is still under investigation.