A ten-year-old was accidentally shot in the abdomen on July 25, 2013, while standing in front of his family yard on Carpenter Street in Ladyville in the Belize District.

The accused shooter, who happens to be the victim’s 14-year-old cousin, was allegedly playing with a firearm when it went off, hitting the young man in the lower portion of his abdomen, rupturing his intestines. The two minors, who live in the same yard, were both standing near a van parked outside their yard at about 11:00 that night.

The victim’s mother said that they were inside when they heard the gunshot, and do not have a clue as to where the gun could have come from.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Chris Noble, who is the head of the Ladyville Police Sub-Formation, reported that police heard a loud bang and went to investigate, because the street where the shooting took place is located directly behind the police station in Ladyville.

He said “Sometime after 10:45 p.m., there was a noise heard by the area of the station. A minor was brought to the station suffering from injuries and he was subsequently taken to the hospital at the military camp — he was later transported to Karl Heusner. A parent brought in another minor and an item which we believe may have been the item that inflicted the injury, and we have been looking into why, and we have clarified certain points and our investigation still continues.”

Today, Amandala got an update from ASP Noble, who told us that the 14-year-old was formally charged for the offence and was subsequently taken to the Family Court.

The 10-year-old had recently started a summer camp with the Police Youth Cadet Corp. He is supposed to return to school in September as a standard three student.

Amandala contacted the Director of Public Relations at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, Brenda Stuart, who confirmed to us that the victim was released from the hospital today, Thursday.