LEESBURG, Fla. – A 24-year-old man accidentally shot and critically wounded his 4-year-old son who was asleep in bed early Wednesday at a home in Leesburg, according to police.
Herbert James was arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The child taken to Leesburg Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando. He was listed in critical but stable condition.
Leesburg police said officers were called around 2 a.m. to a home in the Stock subdivision.
"There was just gunshots next door," a 911 caller said.
Officers discovered a vehicle parked at a home on Berwick Drive that had two bullet holes in its windshield.
The vehicle belongs to Samuel Bellina, who police said works with James.
Bellina told authorities that the two had a few drinks before James asked for a ride home.
"I know that he had a concealed weapons permit, right and he just asked me for a ride home. I drove him home. He asked me if I wanted to see it and I was like, yeah, ‘I'll take a look at it’ and when he pulled it out of the bag he cocked it. And I said, 'Why did you cock it?' and the next thing I know ‘bang bang’ through the windshield," Bellina said.
Bellina said two shots were fired and went through his front windshield. When he heard police sirens he ran away.
"I ran because I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to get into any trouble," said Bellina.
James came out of the home and became belligerent when officers started questioning him, police said. He then went back into the house and officers heard a gunshot, police said.
Officers said they immediately went inside and found James standing in his living room holding a handgun. A woman was near him holding their wounded 4-year-old son, police said.
Police said James was handling the gun inside his bedroom when the firearm discharged. The bullet traveled through a closet wall and into the adjoining bedroom, where the boy, who was sleeping in his bed, was struck, according to the arrest report.
Officers directed James to place the gun on the floor, and they detained him without incident, police said.
The boy was rushed taken to the hospital.
James was arrested and taken to the Lake County Jail.
Bellina told News 6 he didn't think James intentionally fired his gun.
“I think he was having a couple drinks and maybe just finger slipped. And I think when he went inside he was trying to put it away and the gun was faulty and it went off again in the house. From what I understand," Bellina said.
James will appear before a judge Thursday morning.
An investigation is ongoing.