A 4-year-old boy was injured when he accidentally shot himself in the hand with a gun on Thursday morning in Weare, New Hampshire, police said.
The incident occurred around 8 a.m. at an apartment building on North Stark Highway.
The shot went through the child's hand and came to rest in a nearby wall.
Weare police Lt. Frank Hebert said they are still investigating how the child got a hold of the handgun, but said it was not secured properly.
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"Obviously, a firearm -- the risks associated with a firearm in the hands of a juvenile that age, we could go on and on, but, yes, the inherent risks are astronomical,"
he said.
The Division for Children, Youth and Families has been notified. He would not comment on whether charges will be filed, saying only "we have a direction we're going in."
The boy's mother and grandmother were home at the time. Hebert said the family is cooperating with the investigation.
No one in the boy's home wanted to talk Thursday afternoon.
The child was taken by ambulance to Concord Hospital, and later to a hospital in Boston.
In addition to police, the Hillsborough County Attorney's Office was also at the scene investigating.
