Police: Arkansas boy, 11, shot by mistake by family member

A family member shot and seriously wounded an 11-year-old boy Sunday morning in Woodruff County after mistaking the boy for an intruder, according to Arkansas State Police.

State police spokesman Bill Sadler said preliminary witness statements indicate the boy walked from a nearby home into a residence where a family member lived in the Mayberry community west of Cotton Plant at about 12:45 a.m.

The family member's relationship to the boy wasn't available Sunday afternoon, but Sadler said the shooter called 911 to report a possible intruder before the shooting.

Woodruff County sheriff's deputies arrived at the home to find the wounded boy near a doorway, Sadler said.

The boy was taken to Arkansas Children's Hospital, where he was in critical condition Sunday afternoon.

State police detectives will investigate the shooting and turn their findings over to prosecutors for any possible charges.

Metro on 06/20/2016

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