2-year-old shot with father's gun in Battle Creek

Trace Christenson | Battle Creek Enquirer

A 2-year-old boy was injured Wednesday when he accidentally shot himself with his father's gun.

Battle Creek police said the boy was shot in the buttocks at his home in the 100 block of Battle Creek Avenue. The incident was reported at 3:58 p.m. Wednesday when the father, 26, arrived at Bronson Battle Creek carrying his son.

Police said the single gunshot wound entered the right buttock and exited near the boy's front right hip.

The boy was transferred to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo for treatment of a non-life threatening wound, Detective Sgt. Todd Elliott said Thursday.

Police have not released the names of the boy or his father.

Officers said the father told them he was playing a game on the couch and his son had been sleeping in a bedroom. The father said he went to the bathroom and as he was walking back to the living room he heard a pop and said his son came running to him holding his buttocks.

Police said they went to the house and the gun was on the couch loaded and with the safety off. The brother of the father told police he was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom and didn't hear the gunshot.

The father said he holds a valid Concealed Pistol License.

Police said they are conducting further interviews as the investigation continues and could seek charges against the father.

Meanwhile police and prosecutors are continuing their investigation of the 7-year-old girl who had a loaded handgun in her backpack last month at Prairieview Elementary School at 1675 Iroquois Ave.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Dan Buscher said this week his office is seeking some additional information after Battle Creek police sent reports on the incident to his office and sought charges against the father.

In that case a teacher's aide was placing material in the backpack of the special education student at the end of the school day on Oct. 23 when the .40 caliber handgun was discovered.

The father, who has a CPL and works as a security officer, has told police his daughter took the wrong backpack and officers don't believe the girl knew it was inside.

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson.