EUSTIS, Fla. (WFLA) – His father is facing charges after his 5-year-old son accidentally shot him in the head last month, according to Eustos police.
Investigators told NBC affiliate WESH that the boy’s father, Dexter Neal, was charged with negligence for negligence and negligence of the child.
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The boy stolen a firearm at his family’s Eustis home on June 29th. Police said the gun disappeared while the 5-year-old was handling the weapon and was shot just above his left eye.
His mother ran to the neighbor’s house for help. Their neighbor, the neighbour and undisturbed nurse and her police fiancé began providing assistance to the 5-year-old until he could fly to the hospital.
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri told Wesh that the quick response from the boy’s neighbor likely saved his life. The 5-year-old underwent surgery at Arnold Palmer Hospital and is recovering, including weeks of physical therapy and multiple rehabilitation.
Officials said they were desperate when their parents arrived at their home that day. The family told detectives they usually store firearms in the upper shelf of their bedroom closet in the original manufacturer’s lockbox.
The family also said they “believed in it.” [redacted] He should have access to the weapon and he normally slept in the same room as his father,” the officer wrote in a police report.
According to Wesh, Neil was ordered to abandon all firearms and not to contact the victim. His next court date is August 18th.
