Suspect arrested in 'accidental' shooting that injured 11-year-old boy

BATON ROUGE - A man has been arrested for the accidental shooting of a child earlier this week.

Authorities say 19-year-old James Gales allegedly admitted to the crime and turned himself in Tuesday night.

The incident was reported just before 5:30 p.m. Monday at Canterbury House Apartments on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard near Old Hammond Highway. Police said witnesses initially reported the suspect entered the residence through an unlocked door and fired a shot, striking the 11-year-old male in the face.

However, arrest records say Gales told investigators he had been cleaning a .38 revolver in poor condition when it misfired and hit the victim. He said he rushed to the office building of the apartment complex and called 911 due to his own phone being disconnected.

Authorities said the victim is expected to survive.

Gales was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and charged with negligent injuring.