UPDATE — Weapon discharged, 3-year-old wounded

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

A 3-year-old child was struck by a bullet early Monday afternoon.

The incident occurred shortly after 12 noon Tuesday in the 900 block of 
Spring Street near the intersection with Winter Street. The Waynesboro 
Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff's Office and Wayne General 
Hospital all responded to the scene.

The incident is being investigated, and WPD Chief Brian Everett said no 
final outcome of the investigation had been reached and no charges had 
been filed as of press time.

"The investigation so far has found that the female was outside of the 
vehicle when the incident occurred," Everett said, adding that the 
female driver was a relative of the victim. "The juvenile got a hold 
of the gun and apparently shot himself. An infant baby was also inside 
the vehicle at the time."

The child was taken to Wayne General Hospital, was stabilized and then 
air-flighted to a hospital in Mobile, Ala. As of Tuesday morning, the 
child was in stable condition. The child suffered a gunshot wound to the 
stomach, Everett said.

Officers gathered evidence at the scene and retrieved a handgun from the 
backseat of the vehicle. Medical personnel treated the child on the 
scene and then transported the child to Wayne General Hospital.

The names of the child, nor the adult with the children, were being 
released.