Teen Accidentally Shoots Himself in Leg

Fort Smith Police were called to Sparks Hospital Thursday evening on a report that a 15-year-old boy had been dropped off with a gunshot wound to the leg.

The teen eventually admitted to police that he’d accidentally shot himself while handling the gun, according to a police report. Police say the boy’s injury was not life-threatening, but hospital staff mentioned the possibility of reconstructive knee surgery.

Police say the boy told them he started carrying a gun after he was “jumped” a couple weeks ago. The teen said he was walking in an alley off of Grand Avenue and heard something behind him, so he pulled out the gun, the report states.

“After realizing it was a car on Grand he went to put the gun back up and accidentally shot himself in the leg,” the report states.

Police say the boy went home and gave the gun to a Hispanic male. Officers were able to recover the gun from the man.

According to police the gun was a stolen .38 Smith and Wesson Revolver. The suspect in the theft was another teenager. The investigation is ongoing.