LINCOLN, DELAWARE (8/10/2015) A 21-year-old Lincoln man was arrested Sunday after a gun he was handing to his mother discharged, with the bullet striking a child and a man inside the home, Delaware State Police said today.
The incident happened about 12:15 p.m. in the 21000 block of W. Mayhew Drive in Cedar Creek Estates.
Police said Juan J. Shirey was standing outside the home with a gun when his mother saw him with it and she went to a window to retrieve it from him due to some recent drug and weapon charges.
As Shirey was handing the gun to his mother, who was leaning out the living room window, a round discharged and went through the exterior wall into the living room.
It first struck a 23-month-old boy in the leg, traveling through him and into the hand of his 24-year-old uncle who was standing directly behind the child, police said.
Shirey’s mother and three other young children, ages 6 months to 7 years old, also were in the living room but not injured.
Both victims were taken by personal vehicle to Bayhealth Milford Memorial Hospital, where the man was treated and released. The child was later flown to Nemours/A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Rockland where he was admitted in good condition, police said.
Shirey was charged with first and second-degree assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and six counts of reckless endangering. He was being held at Sussex Correctional Institution near Georgetown in lieu of $140,000 cash bond.
Police said a .45 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene.