Dad Charged In Shooting Incident Involving 2-Year-Old Son

MIAMI, FL — The father of a two-year-old boy who was shot Thursday and another man are facing charges of child abuse and other offenses in connection with the incident that left the toddler recovering at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Friday morning with a single gunshot wound to the stomach.

The father was identified as 22-year-old as Caleb Christopher Myles of Miramar, Florida. He was also charged with filing a false report of a crime to a law enforcement agency.

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The incident occurred at the home of 22-year-old Donte Anthony Young-Sang around 6 p.m. in the 1400 block of NE 202 Street, according to Miami-Dade police. Young-Sang was also charged with child abuse and other offenses.

Court documents said Myles was outside walking to a garbage can when he heard a single gunshot. He returned to find Young-Sang and the child coming out of a bedroom.

Myles then "lifted the shirt of the victim and discovered a single gunshot wound to his abdomen," court documents said, noting that there had been several unsecured weapons in the home.

Miami-Dade police said earlier Friday that they were not looking for anyone in connection with the shooting, which suggested that police already knew who fired the weapon and were trying to determine whether the shooting was accidental.

"A call was made to police advising that a male was observed entering a vehicle carrying a toddler near the incident location," explaind Detective Chris Thomas of the Miami-Dade Police Department.. "The caller also advised that the male was yelling that a shooting had occurred."

Moments later, Aventura reported that a child arrived at Aventura Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper torso.

"MDPD units responded to the hospital and determined that the child's father had driven him to the hospital," Thomas said. "The father stated that while at the incident location, a white vehicle drove by and an occupant opened fire, striking the child."

But Thomas said police later learned that the shooting had occurred inside the home and was not a drive-by shooting.

"The toddler was transferred to Joe DiMaggio Hospital in stable condition," Thomas said.

To report a tip, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477) or (866) 471-8477; Visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select “Give a Tip” or text "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.

Caleb Christopher Myles photo courtesy Miami-Dade Police Department