10-Year-Old Boy Accidentally Shot In Staten Island Home
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 10-year-old boy was accidentally shot by a family friend in Staten Island Saturday evening.
The shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. Saturday at a family gathering at a home on Deisius Street in Prince's Bay.
Investigators say the 42-year-old suspect was handling a firearm that was registered to another guest when it went off and struck the 10-year-old boy in the shoulder.
The victim was rushed to Staten Island University Hospital and was expected to recover.
Patricia Meeks is a neighbor who tells 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria that she feels bad for the child who was caught in the crossfire.
"It brings up the old question about having firearms, but it's so sad when the child is a victim of this," she said.
The alleged shooter fled the scene after the shooting, but went to the 123rd Precinct to turn himself in shortly after midnight.
An attorney for the man who was handling the weapon, Semion Mosheshvili, told WCBS 880's Mike Sugerman therewas no reason to charge his client.
"This whole incident was an accident," said attorney Arthur Gershfeld.
Gershfeld said Mosheshvili, his wife and his five children were visiting a friend who did have a permanent weapon around.
"My client was completely unaware that the weapon was loaded," Gershfeld said.
But the weapon was loaded, and Gershfeld said a bullet went from the second-floor apartment down to the first floor and struck the boy.
"(It) means that the bullet went through a couple layers of wall and the it went down through the ceiling," Gershfel d said.
Gershfeld said Mosheshvili's wife even took the boy to the hospital. His client faces very serious charges, including criminal possession of a weapon and endangerment.
