San Diego

Man Accidentally Fires Bullet in Apartment, Strikes 11-Year-Old Near Pool: PD

The victim told police he was skateboarding with friends at the time of the shooting.

An Oceanside resident was cleaning out his rifle when a bullet negligently discharged, flying through a wall and striking an 11-year-old playing by the pool, Oceanside Police said. 

The discharge happened at approximately 7:50 p.m. Saturday when police responded to a reported shooting at a apartment complex on the 400 block of Vandegrift Boulevard, Oceanside Police Lt. Daniel Sullivan said. 

When officers arrived, they found an 11-year-old boy with a non life-threatening gunshot wound to his hand, Sullivan said. He was taken to Children's Hospital via an air ambulance in stable condition. 

The boy told police he was skateboarding near the apartment complex's pool area with two friends when he heard a single loud pop, then noticed the injury on his hand. 

Police officers began their investigation in the area and found several witnesses. One witness eventually told officers he was unloading his .223 caliber rifle when he accidentally fired a bullet through his apartment wall, Sullivan said. 

Investigators fond a single bullet hole in the wall, near where the children were playing. 

The man, who has not been identified, was detained and taken to Oceanside Police Department's headquarters. 

The investigation is ongoing. No further information was available. 

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