A North Carolina police officer shot his 15-year-old son in the head in what appears to have been an accident, officials said.
The man, who has not been identified, is an officer with the Jacksonville Police Department, near the North Carolina coast. The unidentified teen suffered a life-threatening injury Monday afternoon and was taken to Vidant Medical Center in Pitt County, District Attorney Ernie Lee said. He remained in critical condition Wednesday, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office said.
It was not clear Wednesday whether the weapon was the officer's department-issued handgun.
"This is a tragic event and this matter remains under investigation by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office," Lee said Tuesday in a statement on Facebook. "The reports, statements, and other evidence from the investigation will be provided to this office to determine what actions, if any, will be taken."
The officer is on administrative leave, Jacksonville police said.
"We ask for prayers for the family during this time," the police department said in a statement.
