Teen, 16, Accidentally Discharges Gun Near 7-Year-Old Child: Police

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A 16-year-old Teen was saved by officers after the juvenile was found with gunshot wounds, Middletown Police Department said.

On Nov. 2, Middletown Police Responded to 63 Ferry Street to investigate the report of a shooting, police said.

When officers arrived, they found a 16-year-old teen in serious condition suffering from a gunshot wound. The firearm used in the shooting was also located at the scene, police said.

Officers quickly applied a tourniquet to the juvenile and provided other life-saving measures. The juvenile was transported to Hartford Hospital, where they underwent surgery and survived, police said.

The Middletown Police Major Investigations Unit began to investigate the case, and detectives determined the juvenile did not reside at that residence but had come to visit a resident whom they associated with, police said.

The juvenile had a firearm with no serial numbers (ghost gun), and during the visit, the juvenile was handling the gun and accidentally shot himself, police said.

At the time, the juvenile was near a 7-year-old child in the residence, police said.

The injured juvenile attempted to conceal the weapon before officers arrived, police said.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the juvenile, police said.

On Nov. 15, the juvenile was located and charged by detectives, police said.

The juvenile was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal discharge of a firearm, failure to obtain a serial number (firearm), 1st-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor, police said.

The juvenile was issued a court date and released to a parent on a court-set promise to appear, police said.