Manchester police are still determining whether charges will be filed after a 5-year-old boy accidentally shot himself early Saturday morning.
Police say the child would likely be released from the hospital on Monday and is expected to make a full recovery.
Lieutenant Maureen Tessier says police are still investigating how he ended up playing with the .22 caliber handgun, which police have seized.
“We have to consider the circumstances surrounding how the child was able to get access to the gun. The gun was believed to be loaded when the child got possession of it," she said. "All of those things are something we have to consider to determine whether or not charges are appropriate.”
Police say the gun belongs to the mother’s boyfriend, Sonday Bishop, who has since released a statement saying the incident was an accident.
It is illegal in New Hampshire to store a loaded firearm in a place where a child could access it.
The maximum penalty for the violation is a fine of no more than $1,000.
As we reported as part of our gun series, it's rare in New Hampshire for people to face charges for negligent storage of firearms.
