DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — According to the Dothan Police Department, officers responded to a local hospital at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 6, after two individuals arrived seeking treatment for gunshot-related injuries.
Police said one of the injured individuals was a juvenile under the age of 18, while the other was an adult male. Both suffered non-life-threatening injuries to a hand.
According to investigators, the preliminary investigation determined several family members were involved in a verbal dispute inside a residence in the 700 block of Hutchins Street. Police said the argument escalated into a physical altercation, during which the juvenile retrieved a handgun from another room and returned to the area where the altercation was taking place.
According to police, an adult family member who was not involved in the altercation saw the juvenile with the handgun and attempted to intervene to prevent it from being used. During a struggle over the firearm, a single round was discharged, causing minor hand injuries to both the juvenile and the adult male.
Investigators later obtained a search warrant for the residence. According to police, numerous firearm magazines and various types of ammunition were found during the search, but no firearm was recovered from the home.
Police said both individuals were treated for their injuries and later released from the hospital.
According to the Dothan Police Department, because a weapon was involved, the juvenile has been charged as an adult with one count of Assault Second Degree.
