4-year-old child critically wounded in possible accidental shooting in East Germantown

A 4-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition after getting shot in what appeared to be an accidental shooting Thursday night in the city’s East Germantown section, police said.

Around 8:25 p.m., police responded to the unit block of East Penn Street and found the boy in the first-floor living room bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound to his abdomen, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.

Police rushed the semi-conscious boy to Einstein Medical Center, and he may get airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Small said.

Family members told police a woman, who is a relative of the boy, was handling a semi-automatic handgun when it discharged, Small said.

There were three other young children in the room at the time but they were not hurt, Small said.

The woman remained at house and was cooperating with police, Small said.

Both the boy and woman live at the residence, Small said.