Nashville police have been investigating the shooting of a 10-year-old boy.

Metro Nashville Police spokeswoman Kristin Mumford said Youth Services detectives have been handling the apparent accidental shooting of the boy allegedly by his father.

Mumford said the father indicated he had dropped what he thought was an unloaded gun on Friday night. When he picked it up, the gun discharged, and the child was struck in the abdomen.

Mumford said the boy was transported to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and was expected to recover.