Crime & Safety

La Mesa Boy Accidentally Shoots Sister in Shoulder with Assault Rifle

An ambulance crew took the victim, who was conscious and alert, to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego for treatment of the apparently non-life- threatening injury.

A 12-year-old boy fired an assault rifle – apparently by accident – in his La Mesa home Monday, sending a slug into his older sister's shoulder as she was lying on a living room couch.

The boy made a 911 call about 9:45 a.m. to report the shooting in the 8800 block of Jefferson Street in La Mesa. Officers and medics arrived to find the 17-year-old girl suffering from a bullet wound to the upper left side of her body, Lt. Matt Nicholass said.

An ambulance crew took the victim, who was conscious and alert, to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego for treatment of the apparently non-life- threatening injury.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Her brother told investigators he had inadvertently fired the AR-15 after retrieving it from his parents' bedroom and handling it in a dining area next to the room where the girl was watching television.

"He was scared, very shocked," the lieutenant said.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The round went through the victim's shoulder and into the sofa, according to Nicholass.

It was not immediately clear if the boy or his parents might face any type of criminal charge, such as negligent use of a firearm, or if the weapon was properly registered, Nicholass said.

– City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.