NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro Nashville Police said a two-year-old boy is expected to recover after investigators believe he gained access to a gun inside a North Nashville apartment and accidentally shot himself Thursday night.
The shooting happened inside an apartment at Cumberland View housing on 26th Avenue North in the Buena Vista Heights neighborhood.
Police initially responded just after 8:30 p.m. Thursday after reports of a child with a gunshot wound. Officers found the toddler in the parking lot, though investigators believed the shooting occurred inside one of the apartments.
The child was taken to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest. On Friday morning, Metro police said the boy was in stable condition and expected to recover because the bullet avoided vital organs.
According to Youth Services detectives, people who were present told investigators they believe the child found a pistol in the living room, fired it, and wounded himself.
Police said a man who reportedly owned the gun left the area shortly after the shooting, apparently taking the pistol with him. Officers did not locate the weapon.
The investigation remains active.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Megan.Scarano@NewsChannel5.com.
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