RUMFORD —  A 7-year-old Rumford boy remains hospitalized in critical condition at Maine Medical Center in Portland after a sibling shot him in the head early Monday night with a BB from a pump-action air rifle, according to state police and Maine Med officials.
Daniel Johnson, the son of Daniel and Darcy Johnson of 212 Pine St., was shot in a bedroom at 6 p.m., then driven to Rumford Hospital, according to state Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.
After emergency room treatment, the youth was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to the Portland hospital.
Rumford police were not notified of the incident until 7 p.m., according to police Detective Sgt. James Bernard.
“LifeFlight was already landing when we were notified. I’m sure it was pretty hectic in the emergency room,” Bernard said Tuesday, explaining why police weren’t notified until an hour after the shooting.
After Rumford police secured the scene and began investigating, five state police detectives took over the investigation due to the severity of the boy’s injury.
“If there is a possibility that death could occur, state police take over. At this point, though, everything is pointing toward it being an accident,” Bernard said.
“No decision has been made on whether any charges will be lodged against the juvenile who fired the shot,” McCausland said.