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Child, 7, is shot in the face
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Posted on May 29 2023
A 7-year-old boy who was allegedly playing with a registered firearm that he had found in the house in Kagman accidentally shot himself in the face and had to be evacuated to Guam for emergency surgery last May 21, 2023.
The child, who is reportedly in stable condition at an unnamed Guam hospital, is expected to recover, according to a Department of Public Safety news release yesterday. It was not immediately known why it took DPS nearly a week to release information about the incident.
The DPS news release stated that the boy accidentally discharged the gun and hit himself in the face while he and another child were playing with the gun.
Saipan Tribune asked DPS whether rumors about the gun being registered to a law enforcement officer was true or not, but DPS could not confirm or deny this as of press time.
“We can’t release [information] yet until confirmed. Once the information is provided, I will give out updates,” said DPS spokesperson Fred Sato.
Sato added that the case still remains under investigation. He also did not clarify whether the child’s guardians are facing consequences or not.
According to the DPS news release, police responded to the incident in Kagman on Sunday, May 21, at about 9:55pm. The child was rushed to the Commonwealth Health Center and was later evacuated to Guam for emergency surgery.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the child and another minor were playing inside a relative’s home when one of them somehow got hold of the firearm. While handling the gun, one of the children accidentally discharged the weapon.
