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No charges to be filed after 8-year-old boy accidentally shot in Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount police said an 8-year-old was the victim of an accidental shooting Wednesday night.

Posted Updated

By
Brett Knese
and
Keely Arthur, WRAL reporters
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Rocky Mount police said an 8-year-old was the victim of an accidental shooting Wednesday night.

Police said the boy was shot in the abdomen around 10:15 p.m. in the 600 block of Avondale Avenue. The child was transported to UNC Nash for treatment. At last report, the child was in critical condition after being in surgery for a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Police said the shooting appeared to be an accidental discharge by the child's father while he was cleaning his gun and putting it back together.

Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson said he is a gun owner and hunter. He was saddened to hear the news.

"It was completely by accident," Roberson said. "It's not as if the gun was not being stored properly. It’s not as if the child got ahold of it and started playing with it."

Roberson says no charges will be filed.

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