BENTONVILLE — A 5-year-old Decatur boy was released from Arkansas Children’s Hospital after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face.
“He’s a lucky boy,” Decatur Police Chief Terry Luker said Thursday.
Luker said the boy’s mother took him the hospital in Siloam Springs. The child later was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. He was released Wednesday night.
The shooting occurred at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at the boy’s home at 388 Hill Ave. The boy shot himself in the eye with a .38-caliber revolver, Luker said.
Decatur police arrested the boy’s parents, Lawrence Thompson and Jessica Thompson, on Thursday in connection with the incident, Luker said.
Lawrence Thompson was arrested in connection with charges of felon in possession of firearms, endangering the welfare of minor in the first degree, tampering with evidence and tampering with a witness. Jessica Thompson was arrested in connection with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, Luker said.
Lawrence Thompson tried to tell other people, mainly his wife, what to say about the shooting and attempted to cover it up, Luker said.
The Thompsons are in the Benton County Jail awaiting bond hearings.
The boys and his two siblings are in the custody of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Luker said.