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It's the kind of story that just boggles the mind…after all how do guns end up in the hands of children? But it happened in Ladyville last night and Monica Bodden tried to find out why today.

Monica Bodden reporting
It was just after 10 last night when the shooting incident happened here on the street side in front of the family yard of the two minors.

From what we gathered, 10 year old Deon Samuels Jr was standing in front of this Astro van - when he was shot in the abdomen by his 14 year old cousin.

The bullet exited the child and penetrated the van, leaving this visible bullet hole.

Elaine McCollough - Mother of 10 year old
"Last night around 11:00 we were all inside watching a movie, including the young man that shot my son - they are related (cousins) and as the movie ended - in one split second we heard the gunshot and then his dad said 'that is beeruch (nickname)" and when we ran out he walked into the yard and he told me he got shot. His father took him to the police station and from there they escorted him to the BDF."

Monica Bodden
"And all this while he was conscious?"

Elaine McCollough
"Yes and walking too."

Today 10 year old Samuels is hospitalized at the KHMH in a critical but stable condition. So far he has undergone one surgery and might need to be operated on a second time.

Elaine McCollough
"Right now they say that he's stable for right now but if he gets infected then he will have to go through another surgery because they had to put tubes in."

Reporter
"Was there a mjor artery or organ that was damaged?"

Elaine McCollough
"The small intestine - it has about 4 cm the doctors say and they had to put tubes."

Reporter
"Is he talking now?"

Elaine McCollough
"Yes, he talked this morning."

But what really happened last night in front these two minors home? According to the family, the gun is not owned by anyone inside the family yard. So how did the 14 year old boy end up with the weapon? It is still a mystery.

Elaine McCollough
"According to my nephew they had the gun and they put the bullet and shot it."

Reporter
"Were they playing with it?"

Elaine McCollough
"I guess so."

Reporter
"But the gun is not for anybody in the yard? You don't know about the gun?"

Elaine McCollough
"Not as far as right now, no."

Reporter
"So you haven't asked any of them about this gun? Where they got it from?"

Elaine McCollough
"Not yet."

Monica Bodden
"But the 14 year old is in Police custody at this time?"

Elaine McCollough
"Yes, right now it's confusing because everybody is asking the same questions - where did the gun come from? So we don't have any answer to that yet."

The shooting happened on the street directly behind the Ladyville Police Station. The child was rushed to the station and was transported for medical attention by police. We understand that the 14 year old minor has been in police custody since the incident.

ASP Chris Noble - Regional Executive Officer
"Sometime after 10:45p.m. last night, there was a noise heard by the area of the station. A minor was brought to the station suffering from injuries and he was subsequently taken to the hospital at the military camp - he was later transported to Karl Heusner. A parent brought in another minor and an item which we believe may have been the item that inflicted the injury and we have been looking into why and we have clarified certain points and our investigation still continues."

Reporter
"Where in the vicinity - you said the vicinity of the station."

ASP Chris Noble
"Yes, in the vicinity of the station - it was at a residence and two minors were involved, one injured and one caused the injury."

Reporter
"And the item taken into custody? What is it?"

ASP Chris Noble
"It's a weapon - we have not verified if that's the weapon that did the injury."

Reporter
"It's a gun?"

ASP Chris Noble
"Yes it was a firearm"

Reporter
"Can you tell us the condition of the victim."

ASP Chris Noble
"No, you'll have to check with the Karl Heusner Memorial for that."

Reporter
"Or where he was injured?"

ASP Chris Noble
"As best I can say is that he has an injury to the abdomen."

Reporter
"Do you have any information as to what led to this?"

ASP Chris Noble
"It may have been child's play but we're still looking into it."

Reporter
"I'm assuming they're boys - the two boys were in a house together behind the police station."

ASP Chris Noble
"Yes, it's a street behind the police station - same yard on the street side, they both live in the same yard - they are actually relatives."

Reporter
"Have you interviewed any of them yet?"

ASP Chris Noble
"The investigation is still ongoing and we have been doing what we need to do and trying to compile it for the DPP to make a decision."

Reporter
"Is this weapon a licensed firearm?"

ASP Chris Noble
"That has not yet been confirmed - we're still working on what it is and we will see how best, we'll look into it then."

Reporter
"Because information reaching the media is that it belongs to either a police officer or a BDF soldier."

ASP Chris Noble
"That information to me, I cannot confirm or deny, but I know we do have a weapon and it is in our custody at this time."

The 10 year old is preparing to enter Standard 3.