PATTERSON SPRINGS, N.C. — A 17-month-old girl is in the hospital and is expected to be OK after she was accidentally shot by her 3-year-old brother with their father's gun.
The father, Justin Carper, writes a parenting column for a local newspaper.
Police have not arrested or charged Carper with any crimes as of Thursday night.
Carper is a contributing writer for the Shelby Star. He's not a paid employee but he does write a parenting column.
The 17-month-old girl was shot in Patterson Springs, according to an investigator with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department.
The child is expected to survive.
FRIDAY UPDATE: 911 call released in shooting of 17-month-0ld
The shooting occurred on Jenny Drive on Thursday morning.
The family was doing renovations inside the home and the 9 mm gun was on a dresser.
The little boy climbed the dresser, got the gun and shot his sister.
The bullet did not hit any bones or major organs.
The children's mother called 911 around 11:30 a.m. and drove the child to Cleveland Regional Medical Center.
From there the child was flown to Levine Children's Hospital.
Our news partners at the Shelby Star confirmed the victim's father, whose gun was used in this shooting, is Carper.
Eyewitness News also learned he writes a blog and his website says he is a youth leader at his church.
Sheriff’s deputies said they will contact the district attorney, who will then decide if charges will be filed.
WSOC
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