1-year-old shot in head, critically wounded in Riverdale

John Garcia Image
Friday, August 19, 2016
1-year-old shot in head, critically wounded in Riverdale
Riverdale police say a 1-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot in the head in an apartment.

RIVERDALE, Ill. (WLS) -- Riverdale police say a 1-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot in the head in an apartment in the 100-block of East 136th Street.

Police said the toddler was taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn where he remains in critical condition.

Cell phone video shot by a neighbor across the street shows paramedics rushing the toddler to the ambulance. One witness said it appeared the child was injured in the shoulder and head, and was bleeding heavily when relatives carried him out of the house.

"It's heartbreaking to see a baby, and all this violence going around," said neighbor Michelle Baker.

Police said the toddler suffered a single gunshot wound and they recovered a gun at the scene. Neighbors said it appeared to have been a tragic accident when older kids in the house discovered a gun.

"To my understanding what happened was that the kids found the gun and they were fighting over it trying to take it away from each other when the gun went off and shot the baby in the head," said neighbor YourMajesty Lumpkins.

The baby's mother was apparently away from home when the shooting happened just before noon. An older relative had been left in charge.

Community activist Andrew Holmes said it is another example of the dangers of leaving guns unsecured where children can find them.

"Secure these guns because our children are under attack and under fire," Holmes said.

Police said all parties involved are cooperating with the investigation. Family members reportedly told police they don't know where the gun came from or how it got into the house.