Boy, 5, Injured In Armstrong Co. Shooting
FORD CITY (KDKA) – State Police say a 5-year-old boy who was accidentally hit by gunfire in his Armstrong County home late Wednesday morning was shot by another juvenile.
According to police, the shooting happened at 1123 Fourth Avenue in Ford City. Officers were dispatched to the home at 11:27 a.m. Police say the weapon was a 9mm handgun.
The child was believed to be home at the time with two brothers and one adult.
"I think it's scary. I think it's sad. It's upsetting. He's a beautiful kid," said Michael Gratteri, a neighbor.
Gratteri witnessed the panic moments after the single gunshot went off.
"I saw the oldest boy was running around frantic, yelling in his underwear in the front yard," Gratteri said. "I knew something bad happened… ran over and he said, 'Isaac got shot.'"
Three boys were in the house when the shot was fired. Reports are that the father may have been asleep.
"The oldest boy told me that he had stopped breathing for a little bit," Gratteri. "They got him breathing, and he was gasping for air, and there was a lot of blood."
Later in the day, state police retrieved at least five long-barreled guns from the home, a handgun, and hundreds and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Brad Crispen, a Ford City father of two, told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti that his wife sent him a text from work about the shooting. Crispen said the news was unsettling.
"I hope the child is so okay. I don't want to see a parent lose a child under these unfortunate circumstances," he said. "I'm not a hunter; there are no guns in my house. I don't feel the need to have a gun. I know some people do, but a lot of kids don't know the difference between a toy gun and a real one."
So far, police aren't saying much about the investigation.
"We know the victim is currently being treated at Children's Hospital," said Sgt. William Myers, of Pennsylvania State Police.
Police have questioned the boy's parents.
Meanwhile, the boy underwent surgery at Children's Hospital and is now in critical, but stable condition.
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