3-year old boy shot in Virginia

A 3-year old Richmond, Virgina boy, Zyeon Mealey, was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound suffered in his home, from what appears to be an accident. Someone from the home then drove the boy to the hospital.

From the article:

Police have arrested and charged the boy's father, 21-year-old Antwoine Mealey on felony child neglect and the boy's uncle, 19-year-old Tyrell Mealey for obstruction of justice.

The police have not yet released any further details from the shooting, such as whether the boy shot himself or the father shot him.

(article with news clip)

UPDATE (2/9/12): Some further information on this case.

The defendant's 15-year-old sister, Antwonda Mealey, testified that she came home from school about 2:45 p.m. Jan. 6 and saw a gun on a dining room table. She said she had seen the gun in the house before but did not know to whom it belonged.

She also testified that she did not touch the gun or see Zyeon get shot. But she said she went upstairs and heard a bang about 20 minutes after she got home.

"I thought something hard had fell," she said.

Antwonda she found Antwoine Mealey in a dining room chair holding Zyeon, who was bleeding from his torso. Authorities say the boy was shot once in the abdomen.

She said she heard her brother, the defendant, saying, "Oh, my gosh; oh my gosh" and that he was telling their stepfather, Anthony Key, to hurry up. Key was in the bathroom.

Key drove Antwoine Mealey and Zyeon to VCU Medical Center, authorities said. Police learned of the shooting after hospital workers called authorities about 3:15 p.m. to report a shooting victim.

....

Langer noted that Antwonda Mealey had seen a gun on a table in plain view, adding that "there are guns around the house."

"His duty is to protect his son from the dangers in the home," Langer said.

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