BOWIE, Md. — An 18-year-old man from Temple Hills has been arrested in connection with an incident where a young child accidentally shot herself with an unsecured firearm in a home in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The child, who sustained a gunshot wound on Sunday, remains hospitalized but is expected to make a full recovery.
The Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) reported that officers responded to a call around 3:50 p.m. on November 3, 2024, at a residence in the 600 block of Brookedge Court, located in the unincorporated area of Bowie. Upon arrival, officers discovered the child suffering from a gunshot wound.
According to the investigation, 18-year-old Elijah Fauntleroy brought a firearm into the residence and left it unattended in the living room. The child found the weapon, inadvertently discharged it, and was struck by a single round. Police say that following the incident, Fauntleroy took the firearm and fled from the scene.
On Monday afternoon, the PGPD’s Fugitive Unit located and arrested Fauntleroy. He faces charges of reckless endangerment and multiple firearms offenses. He is expected to be transported to the Department of Corrections.