POINT TOWNSHIP - The father of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself with a pistol and suffered life-threatening injuries in August has been charged with a misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a child.
The charge was filed earlier this month by Point Township Police Chief Joshua VanKirk against Brian Patrick Long, 37, of 290 Dogwood Lane, Point Township, in connection with an Aug. 5 incident at his home.
According to a criminal complaint filed at the office of Senior Magisterial District Judge Richard Cashman of Milton, Long is accused of leaving loaded semi-automatic pistols on the floor of his home, one of which was accidentally discharged by his 8-year-old son.
Police said the youth was wounded by a bullet fired from a Kel-Tec P3AT .380 semi-automatic pistol.
Police said the boy, who was transported by his father to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, suffered serious injuries, including a broken pelvis, damaged femoral vein, colon, kidney and intestines. At one point, the boy had to be hooked up to a ventilator because he lost a substantial amount of blood, according to a police affidavit. He was later given a colostomy bag and may have to use it indefinitely.
Long is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing March 13.