Sheriff: Washington 3-year-old shot, reportedly as he and young friend played with gun

LAKE STEVENS, Wash. – The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office says a 3-year-old boy is in serious condition after being shot in the mouth — reportedly as he and a 4-year-old neighbour were playing with a gun.

Lt. Susy Johnson says the 911 call came late Friday night after the boy’s father heard a loud noise from the bedroom of their home in Lake Stevens. He told authorities he found the door locked, forced it open and discovered the boy with a mouth injury. But he said he initially thought it was caused by the door striking the child.

When the child was examined at Providence Medical Center, doctors determined it to be gunshot wound. The boy was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Detectives say the 4-year-old may have accidentally shot the 3-year-old, but that remains under investigation. Johnson said in a news release Saturday she didn’t have any information about the gun or where the children got it.

Authorities say both families are co-operating with investigators.