HCSO investigates accidental shooting of 14-year-old

The Highland County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alleged accidental shooting that took place Sunday evening which injured a 14-year-old in the 3000 block of the Sharpsville Road area near Lynchburg.

According to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward, the incident occurred after 10 p.m. Sunday. Detectives from the HCSO and personnel with the Lynchburg Area Joint Fire and Ambulance District responded to the home on Sharpsville Road.

"We responded to a call that an individual had been shot with a firearm," Ward said. "Upon investigation, it was determined a 14-year-old had suffered a gunshot wound to the head." 

According to the sheriff's report, two 14-year-old males were at a residence and located a firearm locked in a safe and removed it. The juveniles were mishandling the gun, a .357 Magnum revolver, and did not realize it was loaded. The gun fired, striking one of the males in the face.

The juvenile was taken by helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, where he was listed in serious condition.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that there were four people in the house at the time of the accident. The adult mother of one the 14-year-olds and a younger sibling were both in another part of the house and did not know the firearm had been removed from the safe until hearing it fire. Detectives are still interviewing witnesses and have receovered the firearm and other pieces of evidence for evaluation.

"It is way too early to tell if charges will be filed," Ward said. "At some point, it will probably get a prosecutor's review to see if charges will be filed."