A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a 7-year-old boy inside a south-side apartment.
Tucson police said Thursday that Francisco Fernandez was booked into the Pima County jail on one count each of aggravated assault, child abuse, prohibited possessor and a felony probation warrant.
They boy suffered critical injuries after being shot in the lower back. He was transported to Banner-University Medical Center in critical condition. He underwent surgery late Wednesday and has been upgraded to stable condition. Police said he is expected to survive.
Police said that at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, a 911 caller reported a shooting at an apartment complex in the 6200 block of South Campbell Avenue, near East Bilby Road.
When officers arrived, family members were outside with the wounded boy. Officers began administering first aid until paramedics arrived to continue medical treatment and to take the boy to the hospital.
Detectives learned that the shooting took place inside an apartment where the boy and his family were visiting his aunt and her boyfriend. Inside the apartment, the boyfriend, later identified as Fernandez, picked up a handgun. As he was handling the gun, a shot was fired, striking the boy in the lower back.
Detectives do not believe anyone else was involved in the shooting.
