A Cheverly, Maryland, man has been charged with multiple firearm offenses after his four-year-old family member was hospitalized Sunday night, following what Prince George’s County called a “self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
A police spokesman told WTOP that officers responded to a report of a “child sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound” at an apartment in the 6400 block of Landover Road near 63rd Place around 10:45 p.m.
Police said the incident appears to have been an accident.
According to a preliminary investigation, the child found a loaded “ghost gun” — a firearm without a serial number — under a bed during a game of hide-and-seek. In a news release Monday, police said it appears a round was accidentally discharged, striking the child in the arm.
The child’s injuries are not life-threatening, officials said.
Police arrested and charged 20-year-old Jayvon Thomas of Cheverly with possessing the gun and leaving it unsecured. He is currently in custody. Thomas is a relative of the child, according to police.
The child was transported to a hospital.
Investigators are pursuing additional information about the circumstances, police said.
A map of the area where the shooting happened is below. [google_map latitude=”38.9335″ longitude=”-76.9080″ zoom=”13″ height=”300px” location_label=”Scene of shooting” dynamic_map=”false”]