CINCINNATI — A 4-year-old boy was shot with a family member's unsecured weapon Friday, according to police. He remains in critical condition at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, but he is stable.
Tyrekis Shavez Mitchem, 20, was arrested and charged with child endangerment, a third degree felony. Mitchem is being held on $10,000 bond.
Police say the child suffered one gunshot wound to the chest, which investigators believe was self-inflicted. Court documents say the gun was loaded, and in a location that was easy for the 4-year-old to access. Documents say the Mitchem was in the same room as the child at the time of the incident.
The incident occurred in the 900 block of Burton Avenue. Police Capt. Martin Mack said there were other children in the apartment at the time of the shooting, but none of them were injured.
According to police, neighbors said they heard one gunshot and a cry for help from the boy's father, saying "my baby shot himself," neighbor Annette Johnson said.
"It was scary because I don’t drive, and now I'm panicking trying to find somebody that does drive," Johnson said.
Another neighbor, Anthony Lattimore, said he helped carry the boy outside.
"I just helped him apply pressure to his chest, all the way to the car," he said.
Firefighters drove the child to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.
"My prayers are definitely going out to the little boy," Lattimore said.
Check back for updates on this story.
