CLEARLAKE OAKS — A 17-year-old Clearlake Oaks boy sustained a gunshot wound to the head as the result of an apparent accidental discharge of a handgun.
On Tuesday at approximately 5:40 p.m., sheriff”s deputies responded to a report of a boy shooting himself in the head at a Plaza Way home in Clearlake Oaks. Rescue personnel from the Northshore Fire Protection District were staged in the area pending the deputies” arrival.
When deputies arrived at the home, they contacted the boy in his bedroom and confirmed what appeared to be a superficial gunshot wound to the top of the boy”s head. He was conscious and alert. A .22 caliber revolver and two boxes of ammunition were secured from the scene and rescue personnel responded to treat the boy. He was subsequently transported to a waiting REACH helicopter and flown out-of-county for further treatment.
Prior to being taken from the scene by rescue personnel, the injured boy told deputies he accidentally dropped the handgun and when it hit the floor, the weapon discharged and he was struck in the head by the bullet. Statements provided by the boy”s parents and a friend who were all in the home at the time of the incident corroborated the boy”s account of the incident. After a thorough assessment of the scene, deputies determined the shooting did in fact, appear to be accidental.
Further investigation revealed that the boy told his step-father he bought a handgun several weeks prior, but the step-father had no further information about the alleged transaction. Criminal charges against the step-father for neglect and criminal storage of a firearm, as well as charges against the minor for the alleged purchase and possession of the firearm, are pending further investigation.
On Wednesday the boy was reported to be in stable condition in an out-of-county hospital.
