Florida boy, 10, shot, critically injured by teen as pair played with gun, police say

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A 10-year-old Florida boy was shot by a 14-year-old friend Saturday night, the Daytona Beach Police Department said.

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Officers said they responded to a home on South Keech Street at about 8:25 p.m. Saturday, where they found the 10-year-old boy with a gunshot wound, lying on the floor near a bed.

Investigators said the weapon used in the shooting was found in the home.

Police Chief Craig Capri said the 14-year-old, who is a friend, went to the home minutes before the shooting.

Despite the loaded gun being secured, the boys found it and began playing with it before it fired, hitting the 10-year-old boy, police said. A relative in the home heard the gunshot and called police, officers said.

The boy, who was shot in the head, was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center and was later transferred to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando, according to police.

He remains in critical condition. Capri said he's "not doing well."

"The owner of the house who the firearm belonged to did what they felt necessary to secure that firearm," he said. "It's a case by case basis on how you secure your firearm."

Capri said no charges will be filed.

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