Utah authorities are investigating how a 2-year-old boy at a day care center was struck in the head by an apparent stray bullet Monday.
The incident occurred at a day care center in Spanish Fork, about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Detectives learned that the children were playing in a vinyl-fenced area that was attended by two adults. That’s when a boy appeared to stumble and was seen bleeding from his face, police said.
“The daycare notified the parents of the 2-year-old who responded and took their son to the hospital for treatment. It was not until at the hospital that doctors discovered through scans that the boy had a small caliber bullet lodged in his head,» police said.
The boy, who was taken to the Primary Children’s Hospital, is in stable condition, police said.
The incident, police said, appeared to be a «tragic accident.»
“The open fields are directly west of the daycare and it is believed that the round may have come from that area,” police said.
Police were not immediately reached for comment Wednesday. NBC News affiliate KSL of Salt Lake City reported that the incident occurred at Leap Ahead Day Care and that the injured child is a boy.
Lane Mugleston, owner of the daycare, told the news outlet that he was shocked by the apparent errant shooting: “We are absolutely shocked. We are shocked that this is happening in Spanish Fork.”
The daycare told NBC News in a statement Wednesday that it is «absolutely heartbroken» for the boy who was injured and his family.
«The safety of the children and staff in our care has always been our number one priority. We are praying for him and his family, and hope for a full recovery. We are also praying for the shooter and his family. I’m sure I had no idea that his bullet would travel that far.
KSL also reported that on Wednesday, detectives said they had identified a man who was shooting the birds with a .22 caliber air rifle in open fields west of the nursery. That man is cooperating, police said, as the investigation continues and the case will be forwarded to the Spanish Fork city attorney’s office for review of any charges.
The man who was shooting the birds will not be identified unless charges are filed, the news outlet reported.
Doctors treating the boy decided to leave the bullet in the boy’s head for fear of causing further damage if the boy undergoes surgery to remove it, KSL reported.
The boy is expected to make a full recovery, Mugleston told the news outlet.