A New Jersey man is facing criminal charges after accidentally shooting his own daughter earlier this week. The incident happened in Manchester Township, located in Ocean County, New Jersey.
According to local authorities, the shooting occurred on Monday afternoon and led to serious consequences not only for the injured girl but also for her father.
Police say that the man, whose name has not been officially released, was handling a legally owned firearm when it unexpectedly discharged.
The bullet struck his daughter, causing an injury that required immediate medical attention. Emergency services were called to the home, and the girl was rushed to the hospital. Thankfully, she is expected to survive.
Investigators say the father did not intend to harm his daughter, but the accidental discharge still raised serious concerns about how the weapon was being handled. As a result, police arrested him and charged him with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
Authorities emphasized that owning a gun comes with a responsibility to handle it with extreme care. In this case, police believe that carelessness led to the discharge, which could have had even more tragic consequences.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has taken over the case and confirmed the charges. Officials noted that while accidents can happen, there are laws in place to prevent harm caused by unsafe gun handling. If convicted, the father could face jail time and permanent damage to his record.
Gun safety continues to be a serious issue in many parts of the country. In New Jersey, the laws around gun ownership and safe storage are strict. The incident has once again brought attention to the importance of responsible gun use, especially around children.
The injured girl is recovering, and authorities have not provided further details about her condition, respecting the family’s privacy. However, child protective services may also be involved in reviewing the safety of the home environment.
This case is still under investigation, and court proceedings are expected to begin in the coming weeks.