Daniel Bethencourt

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Police say that a 9-year-old boy found a handgun in a neighbor's yard, then shot himself by accident while showing the gun to his mother.

The shooting happened shortly before 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the 17600 block of Faust on the city's west side, said Officer Shanelle Williams, a Detroit Police spokeswoman. Officers arrived at the home and found the handgun on the lawn, and now believe the gun was fired accidentally.

The boy was taken to a hospital, where his condition has stabilized. Police were notified from a security staff member at the hospital.

More updates will be provided as they become available.

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Contact Daniel Bethencourt: 313-223-4531 or dbethencourt@freepress.com. Follow on Twitter @_dbethencourt.