The boys were home alone; the injured boy is expected to survive.

Two 12-year-old boys home alone were playing with a handgun Tuesday morning when the gun was accidentally fired, injuring one of the boys.

The injured boy called 911 to report being shot, according to Springfield police Sgt. George Crolly. Both boys stayed on the phone and cooperated with dispatch as police were sent to the scene.

The injured boy was shot in "the lower extremities" by the other boy and was taken by medics to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. He is expected to survive.

Crolly said now police are investigating how the boys got their hands on the gun, which belongs to a family member in the home, and where the gun had been stored and if it was locked away.

The boys were home from school, with no adult supervision. All schools in Oregon are closed until April 28 amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Contact reporter Chelsea Deffenbacher at cdeffenbacher@registerguard.com or 541-338-2354, and follow her on Twitter @ChelseaDeffenB and Instagram @registerguard. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.