Charlotte 14-year-old critically injured after accidentally shooting himself

A 14-year-old boy playing with a gun accidentally shot himself Saturday afternoon in Fred Alexander Park, off McAllister Drive and Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte.

Medic took the victim to Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries about 3 p.m.

The teen shot himself in his arm, WBTV, the Observer’s news partner, reported.

Lawrence Reese, who’s lived on McAllister Drive for eight years, said he hears gunshots once or twice a month in the park. He said it’s teenagers shooting guns in the air.

Pointing to a garden in the park called The Males Place Garden, Reese said community volunteers have tried to provide positive outlets for youth in the area, but the gunshots continue to ring out.

This story was originally published January 24, 2015 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Charlotte 14-year-old critically injured after accidentally shooting himself."