Muskogee Police Investigate the 'Accidental' Shooting of a Child

A Muskogee toddler is alive after he was accidentally shot late Tuesday afternoon. The shooting happened on Chestnut Street, which is on the east side of Muskogee. <br/><br/>6 in the Morning reporter

Tuesday, November 8th 2005, 5:23 pm

By: News On 6

A Muskogee toddler is alive after he was accidentally shot late Tuesday afternoon. The shooting happened on Chestnut Street, which is on the east side of Muskogee.

6 in the Morning reporter Omar Villafranca the little boy went through emergency surgery Tuesday night and is now recovering. We are told he will be OK.

Muskogee Police say this all started when the boyâ€™s father was cleaning a handgun Tuesday afternoon. Neighbors say the gun accidentally went off. The bullet went through the 18-month old childâ€™s arm and hit his chest before exiting his body.

One neighbor says she thought she heard lightning strike. She knew something was wrong when she saw the man carrying his son's bloody body. Emergency crews quickly arrived and took the boy to the hospital. Neighbors were shocked, but are thankful the boy survived. Cleo Shamblin: "I think it makes people a little more vigilant a little more conscious about what can happen.â€

After surgery in Muskogee, the toddler was taken to a hospital in Tulsa as a precautionary measure.

No word on if any citations were issued in the accident or what type of handgun it was, but regardless, Muskogee Police say the little boy is fortunate to be alive.