Milwaukee Man Charged After 2-Year-Old Shoots Himself In Head

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI—A man was charged on Wednesday in connection with the accidental shooting of his 2-year-old son.

Tommy Smith III was charged after his son, who was unrestrained in a car, accidentally shot himself in the head on Friday in the 2100 block of North 38th Street, according to a criminal complaint.

The child was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.

Smith III was charged with one count of Neglecting a Child - Consequence is Great Bodily Harm. If convicted, he could face up to 12 years in prison.

According to the criminal complaint, Smith was waiting for his girlfriend to leave work when he heard a gun shot and turned around to see his son had been hit.

According to the complaint, the girlfriend came out of work and heard Smith yell, "He found it, he found it!"

Smith said he found the gun a few weeks ago and put it in the cargo compartment, the complaint said.

During a police interview, the girlfriend admitted that Smith instructed her to get rid of the handgun after she drove to the hospital, the complaint said. She followed his instructions and placed the gun in a garbage can, the complaint said. The gun was later recovered by police.

Also during the interview, the complaint explained Smith said he stole the gun and said the gun was likely between the front driver's side seat and center console. He also admitted the child was not in a car seat or buckled in, the complaint said.

"It is not known whether the 2 year-old will survive," the complaint said.

The Milwaukee Police Department reminded the public to secure and keep firearms out of the reach of children.