Jamaica’s HANOVER — A 12-year-old child inadvertently shot himself in the face on Friday in Bamboo, Hanover, and police are looking into the incident.
The child was admitted to the hospital in a critical but stable condition. He attended a well-known high school in the parish.
The child, who was at home with his 14-year-old brother, is said to have left the house at 5:00 pm to search for their goats in the bushes. Following a loud explosion, investigations were conducted.
The 12-year-old was reportedly discovered by his brother in the bushes after he went in search of the goats, with what seemed to be blood coming from his face, according to the police.
When his mother came, she took him to the hospital after their brother had pulled him to the road so they could obtain help.
The child told the police that he found a gun wrapped in a black plastic bag under a stone in the bushes and was investigating it when he shot himself. The police were called.
He was shot in the chin, according to the police, and the bullet left his body above his left eye. To check for gunpowder residue, the boy’s hands were swabbed.
Police reportedly searched the location for the weapon earlier this morning.
