SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that sent a Kansas boy to the hospital and his mother to jail.
Just before noon Thursday, police were dispatched to a reported shooting at the intersection of Hydraulic and Industrial in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.
The call to 911 was made by a juvenile in a car who reported he had been shot. Within a minute of the call, a Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy conducted a traffic stop of a gold Chevy Impala driven by 40-year-old Alvina Horner of Wichita who was northbound on Interstate 135 at Kansas 15 with a 10-year-old boy later identified as her son in the front passenger seat. The boy was suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper left leg.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the deputy called for assistance, prompting a response from additional Wichita Police Officers and Sedgwick County EMS. EMS personnel provided triage at the scene and transported the boy to a nearby hospital with injuries deemed non-life-threatening.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a loaded firearm under the front driver's seat, where the driver, identified as Horner was seated.
Police took Horner to police headquarters for further questioning. Detectives from the Exploited and Missing Child Unit (EMCU) were dispatched to interview the boy at the hospital.
Alvina Horner was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on a requested charge of felony Aggravated Battery; Reckless deadly weapon cause great bodily harm and a felony count of Aggravated endangering a child.
The Wichita Police Department continues investigating this incident and urges anyone with information to come forward and contact investigators at 316-268-4407.