3-year-old boy shot in the arm, flown to hospital, sheriff's office says

3-year-old boy shot in the arm, flown to hospital

A 3?year?old boy was airlifted with life?threatening injuries after a midday shooting Monday in North?Mims.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A child was rushed to the hospital by helicopter after a reported accidental shooting in Brevard County, according to a spokesperson for the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.

What we know:

Deputies say the 3‑year‑old boy was shot around noon Monday at a home on Arianta Drive, a sparsely settled road just off U.S. 1 in North Mims. 

The child was shot in the arm, transported to a hospital, and then airlifted to a trauma center in Orlando.

Todd Goodyear, PIO for Brevard County Sheriff's Office, told FOX 35's Esther Bower that at last check, the child was considered to be in stable condition, but would require surgery.

The shooting was reported as an accidental shooting. Detectives were out at the scene and the hospital, Goodyear said, interviewing family members and potential witnesses, while other detectives were gathering potential evidence. 

What we don't know:

Authorities have not said who pulled the trigger, how the firearm came into the toddler’s reach, or whether the weapon was properly secured. Toxicology results and forensic testing are pending, leaving open questions about possible alcohol use, negligence or other contributing factors. 

What they're saying:

No charges have been filed, and officials have yet to disclose whether any adults in the home owned the gun legally.

"[We're] trying to understand what the sequence of events are that led to this child being injured," said Brevard County Sheriff's Office spokesman Tod Goodyear. "We believe right now, based on what we know, that it was an accident, but it depends on what are the circumstances around it. Was the firearm left out? Was there any alcohol involved or drug impairments?"