Pompano Beach boy critically injured after reported accidental shooting, deputies say
An investigation is underway in Pompano Beach after deputies say parents rushed a child to a local fire station for help following a reported accidental shooting at an apartment complex on Wednesday night.
According to information provided by the Broward Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to reports of the shooting near the 4000 block of Southwest 15th Street in Pompano Beach.
While emergency crews were rushing to the scene, deputies say they were notified that the parents of the victim, who has only been identified as a "young, male child," rushed him to a nearby fire station for help.
BSO said Fire Rescue crews took over medical care and rushed the boy to a hospital where he was listed in critical condition as of Thursday evening.
Authorities have released an emergency call recording from late Wednesday night, providing a chilling account of the moments after the child was shot.
In the audio, the child's mother is heard pleading for help while struggling to describe the incident. When the 911 operator asked what happened, the distraught mother responded, "My son just shot himself". The operator subsequently asked, "Where is the weapon now?" to which the mother replied, "It's in the house".
During the call, the parents reported that they had rushed the injured child to a nearby firehouse. As the mother asked for the location of the closest hospital, the operator assured her that paramedics were en route to her location at the fire department.
Neighbors speak out about what they heard Wednesday night during the reported accidental shooting
Neighbors who spoke with CBS News Miami said they didn't hear any gunshots on Wednesday night, but they did hear some screaming and said they were shocked to hear what happened.
"We just heard the whole family running out, and it was like a really loud scream; it was like a 'something happened' scream," said Tiffany Monegato, who lives in the building.
"It could have possibly been a mistake and they got to (the gun) because, like I said, seeing them from the outside, I don't know how they live on the inside but they're always in work attire," neighbor Mary Willis said. "They come and go and don't bother anybody."
They said two children, a toddler and a child about 5 to 7 years old, lived in the apartment.
"The kids are always healthy looking," Willis continued. "They're taken care of very well. They're happy kids."
"It's sad. I feel like crying just thinking about it," said Monegato.
Detectives with the Broward Sheriff's Office Crime Scene and Violent Crimes units are continuing to investigate the incident.
No other details were released.