CT Teen Accidentally Shoots Himself In Head: Police [UPDATE]

WATERTOWN, CT — A 14-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the head with an unsecured gun at a Watertown home, according to police. There were reportedly 23 guns in the home where the accident happened.

The boy was taken to Waterbury Hospital. He was transported to Connecticut Children's Medical Center where he is listed in critical but stable condition.

The incident happened around noon on Saturday at a Hadley Street home in the Oakville neighborhood, police said.

The teen's grandmother called 911 reporting the boy had fallen down the stairs. Police arrived at the home and found him on the first floor bleeding heavily from his head. He was conscious but incoherent.

Police followed a trail of blood to a bedroom used by an adult family member. An initial investigation found that the boy was playing with an unsecured .22 revolver while he was home alone when the accident occurred, according to police.

Police found 23 guns in the home, many of which were not secured.

"The Watertown/Oakville community is heartbroken by this preventable tragedy," police wrote in a statement. "We are praying for a speedy, full recovery for our young resident. Our message to every gun owner is this – secure your firearms in accordance with the law. That means in a locked container where any person not eligible to possess that firearm cannot access it."

Watertown police, the Department of Children and Families, and the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office are investigating.

It's unclear if anyone will face charges in the incident.

Connecticut passed Ethan's Law in 2019, which requires all guns, loaded and unloaded, be safely stored in homes occupied by minors under 18 years old. The law is named after Ethan Song, 15, of Guilford, who died after accidentally shooting himself in the head in 2018.

See related: Lamont Comes to Guilford to Put Signature on "Ethan's Law"