MIMS, Fla. – A teenager was putting a gun away Monday at a house on Aurantia Road in Mims when somehow that gun went off and hit a 3-year-old boy, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
When Mims Community Correspondent James Sparvero on Tuesday asked the sheriff’s office how old that teenager was, he was told 14.
The toddler was life flighted to the hospital. The sheriff’s office said he’s expected to make a recovery.
[WATCH PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 3-year-old injured in accidental shooting]
Neighbor Ahna Bassford was taken aback to hear about the incident for the first time.
“That’s just baffling to hear that about a 3-year-old down the street,” she said.
Dispatchers told first responders over the radio the child was shot in the arm.
“[Caller] advises an accident,” a dispatcher reported. “It just went off, and the caller’s being hysterical on the phone.”
Bassford commented on whether she believes a shooting can be an accident.
“There’s some things that people don’t mean for them to happen, but they do happen,” she explained. “So, some things truly are accidents.”
The neighbor said she’s hoping for the best outcome to an unfortunate situation.
“I hope the child is able to recover OK and get back to a normal life, somewhat, after that because that would be a traumatic incident for any child, anybody, really,” Bassford said.
[RELATED: 3-year-old boy shot, injured in Brevard County, deputies say]
No one has been arrested in the ongoing investigation.
The sheriff’s office said it’s possible there could be an issue over the 14-year-old who had the gun.
If anyone knows anything else about how the 3-year-old was shot, the sheriff’s office wants you to call them at 321-633-8413.