FRANKLIN, N.C. (WSPA) — The Macon County Sheriff’s Office says that a teen boy is in the hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the head Saturday afternoon in Franklin.

Detectives say they believe the 14-year-old boy thought the gun was not loaded when he was handling it.

Other children were in the house at the time of the shooting, but there were no adults at the home, deputies said.

EMS treated the victim at the scene and he was airlifted to a medical facility outside Macon County, according to deputies.

Detectives were called to the scene and have started an investigation into the incident.

“All indications are leading detectives to believe that the victim may have thought the gun was unloaded at the time he was handling it,” the Macon County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.

The condition of the victim is not known at this time.