One-Year-Old Boy Shot In Head In His Home When Parents Struggle Over Gun

photo by Landon Bone Baker, architects

These stories are always so hard to write.

Monday night a one-year-old toddler was rushed to Weiss Hospital by his father. The child had been shot in the head.

He was transferred to Lurie Children's Hospital and is now said to be in serious and stable condition, upgraded from critical. Thankfully, the bullet did not penetrate his skull.

His father told the police that he and his son had been walking on the 800 block of Leland, near Weiss Hospital, when the occupants of a silver SUV shot at him and a bullet hit the child.

Police and media responded en masse to the scene, where detectives questioned nearby residents and searched for evidence and a crime scene.

Overnight, it was determined that there was no drive-by shooting.  The baby's parents had been arguing inside their apartment at 850 West Eastwood and there was a gun inside their home. During the parents' struggle, the gun discharged.  A bullet ricocheted and hit the one-year-old in the head.

The father ran with the child to the hospital and gave the police an incorrect account of what happened.

The father is 26 years old, according to reports. No charges have been filed against the parents, although it's likely there will be.

CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter this morning:

"Overnight detectives determined that the young boy was actually shot following a domestic struggle between his parents inside their home.  No shooting ever occured at Clarendon/Leland. Criminal investigation including history of weapon & child welfare continues. Charges likely"

We hope for continued improvement and no lasting effects from his injury for the child.