BURKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA: A two-year-old was shot by his three-year-old sibling outside a Baptist church in North Carolina, reports stated.
The authorities “received a call in reference to a gunshot wound” on Sunday, October 15, at around 8.26 pm at River Valley Baptist Church in the Burke County, Sheriff’s Office Morganton said in a press release.
Rev Adam Vines said that his older son had gotten hold of a gun in the side door of the family’s parked van and accidentally fired the weapon, injuring his younger brother, Daniel Vines
Emergency responders informed the police that the victim was shot in the head with the sheriff's office adding, "Responding officers secured the scene and Emergency Medical Personnel assessed the patient and promptly requested helicopter transport by MedCenter Air to CMC Main in Charlotte.”
Daniel Vines incident is still under investigation
The child was said to be in critical condition as of Monday, October 16, and was undergoing surgery.
The sheriff’s office also said that the "investigation is ongoing, and more information will be released as [things continue to] develop.
Daniel Vines is the son of a pastor
According to the reports of WCCB Charlotte, the boy was identified as Daniel Vines, the son of pastor Adam Vines.
Adam told the outlet that Daniel and his family were at River Valley Baptist Church for a late Sunday night, October 15, service.
The father also told 3 WBTV that the bullet went “behind his ear, but it went across the corner on the lower side instead of going through the brain.
His talking, communications, his moving ability, all of that part is still intact.” “He’s stable right now,” Adam told the outlet, adding “we’re lucky” the damage wasn’t as severe as loved ones initially believed.
“He is stable,” said Pastor Adam Vines, adding “Trusting in the Lord. God has him in his hand. God has a perfect plan. It was an accident.”
“I feel for the family,” neighbor Teresa Jordan, who witnessed church members gather around Daniel in the parking lot following the horrifying incident, told WSOC-TV.
“It just breaks my heart. It shows you how quick your life can change," Jordan said.
One-year-old boy murdered by his five-year-old sibling who found a handgun inside their Indiana apartment
Meaww previously reported that the death of a 16-month-old boy in Lafayette, Indiana, is being investigated by the police.
The child was shot by his five-year-old sibling who found a gun inside an apartment.
The autopsy revealed that the infant's cause of death was a single gunshot wound. However, the manner of death is still under investigation pending the completion of the police investigation and toxicology reports.
"The manner of death, however, is pending completion of the police investigation and toxicology reports," said Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello, as per a report in NBC News.
No arrests have been made so far, but the police are continuing their investigation. The case will be sent to the prosecutor's office for review to determine if charges will be filed.