A 13-year-old boy is paralyzed and in critical condition after he was shot while playing with loaded, unsecured guns at a friend’s house.
The boy’s grandparents, Elizabeth and Daniel Green, identified the child as Nathaniel Green, WESH reported.
The shooting took place at about 2 a.m in Port Orange, the station said.
“We allowed him to go over and stay over a friend’s house and turns out they were playing with guns while they were over there,” the Greens said. “I know [the friend’s] stepdad has guns, and we have talked to the stepdad and said we don’t want our grandson anywhere around any guns ever.”
The grandparents said the bullet struck his throat and spinal cord. Doctors were able to remove the bullet.
“They say he’s paralyzed from the neck down and chances are he might barely move like one or two of his arms, but not his legs,” the Greens said.
A fundraiser to support the family said the Nathaniel had just joined the football team and was to play in his first game on Sunday.
“He loves everybody. He’s outgoing. He’s just all around good kid,” the Greens said.
The boy is in an induced coma currently while he undergoes surgery.
Police have not said who pulled the trigger on the gun or what led up to the shooting.
