Philadelphia

Father of Little Boy Shot in His Head By an Older Brother Charged

The boy was shot once in the left side of his forehead and is in "very critical condition."

The father of a 3-year-old boy fighting for his life after his older brother shot him in the head with a handgun has been charged, police said Sunday.

The little boy was shot in the left side of his forehead by his 6-year-old brother Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia, police have said. They and a third brother, who is 12, were allegedly home alone at the time.

The father, identified as Sirhaven Williams, 36, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering the welfare of a person, police said. The reckless charge is a misdemeanor of the second degree and the child endangerment charge can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the severity of the allegations.

The unidentified child is "in very critical condition," police said in a statement Sunday.

The shooting occurred inside a house on the 3600 block of North 18th Street in the Tioga section about 3 p.m. The 6-year-old boy grabbed a handgun from a second floor bedroom and opened fire, striking his 3-year-old brother in the left side of his forehead, police said.

Neighbors heard the gunshot and called the child's family. The toddler was then taken to Temple University Hospital.

"To come home to hear about this is very disturbing and I hope and pray that he's going to be alright," said Charlene Aiken, a neighbor.

Police had been waiting for a warrant to search the home.

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