HOUSTON – A Harris County father is facing criminal charges after his 3-year-old son was injured after the child found his father's gun and fired it.
Deputies were called to a northwest Harris County home on Forestburg near Veterans Memorial just after 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
"I actually know the guy," said neighbor Clyde Greene. "He's a pretty cool guy. But you know, it's sad to see something like that happen."
Deputies originally responded to reports of a child shot. When they arrived, to their relief, it was somewhat less serious.
"The child had found his father's gun," said Sgt. John Stamper with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. "He shot a round, and the recoil from the gun we believe hit him in the face."
Investigators told Local 2 the father was remodeling a room in the house. His 3-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter were playing in another room when the boy found his gun and fired it.
Glocks have no external safety lever, so the child was able to fire a round into a wall. The recoil caused the gun to hit him in the face.
"No life threatening injuries," said Sgt. Stamper. "It was more of a precaution. He may need a stitch or some superglue for a small cut on his nose."
The father now faces a charge of endangering a child.
Deputies allowed him to travel with the child to the Northwest Medical Center. He will be issued a warrant and be required to turn himself in and then post bond.