7-year-old boy shot after kids find loaded rifle

UPDATE @ 6:35 p.m.

A 7-year-old boy was shot in the leg after a gun found by a group of children accidentally fired, Dayton police Sgt. John Jezioro said.

The boy was taken to Dayton Children’s Hospital and will be OK, the sergeant said.

A group of three neighborhood children found the loaded rifle inside a shed in the backyard of an abandoned house, Jezioro said, when around 1:30 p.m. one of the children reportedly dropped the gun when it went off. Homicide detectives were called to the scene to investigate as a precaution, he said.

A Hulbert Avenue woman said the city needs to secure all the abandoned properties on the street.

Nancy Wright, who said it was her 12-year-old daughter who accidentally shot her little friend, said the children were trying to bring the weapon to an adult when it fired. She said her daughter last week found drugs inside another abandoned property and that she is concerned for the safety of the more than 20 children who live on the street.

UPDATE @ 3:30 p.m.

Police said a juvenile male was shot and taken to the hospital for treatment.

The child is expected to be OK, police said.

The shooting may have been accidental. The investigation is ongoing.

EARLIER

Police in Dayton responded to a shooting in the 600 block of Hulbert Avenue.

Officers and a paramedic was called to the scene shortly after 1:30 p.m.

We’re working to learn more and will provide updates when more information becomes available.