A Pennsylvania woman was shot in the back by a 3-year-old after a man, who became “tired” of holding his loaded handgun, left it unattended near a group of toddlers, police said.
The accidental shooting occurred in Northampton County on Monday at a home in Wilson, on the 2200 block of Forest Street, according to a press release from the Wilson Borough Police Department. When they arrived on the scene, officers found the wounded woman, who was rushed to an area hospital for emergency surgery.
Police said the 33-year-old victim, who was not identified, is expected to survive.
Brian Siegfried was arrested in connection with the gunfire and charged with felony aggravated assault, five counts of recklessly endangering another person and a gun charge.
Witnesses on the scene told authorities they saw 41-year-old Siegfried “handling” the firearm on the front porch before he “cocked the gun, placed in on the table and walked across the street.”
Police said the weapon was in the “direct vicinity” of four children — all of them under the age of 5 years old — including a 3-year-old who managed to get their hands on the firearm.
None of the children were injured.
Siegfried later admitted he was “tired of holding the gun and put it down.”
Police noted he is also the subject of a protection from abuse order and was not legally permitted to possess a firearm. He’s being held at Northampton County Central Booking while he waits for his arraignment.
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