INDIANAPOLIS — A 3-year-old child was taken to a local hospital Friday after what IMPD described as an accidental shooting.

According to IMPD, the 3-year-old was driven by family to Eskenazi Hospital Friday morning to be treated for a gunshot wound.

Investigators determined the shooting was accidental and self-inflicted. The victim was last said to be “awake and breathing.”

Police believe the shooting happened at the family’s home on Blankenship Drive near the intersection of W. Southport Road and S. Harding Road.

IMPD says that accident reflects a dangerous and sometimes deadly trend so far this year.

“It’s certainly concerning because we have seen in the Circle City a number of accidental shootings,” said IMPD officer William Young.

While police reports show the 3-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound to the hand, police would not explain how the child was able to access the firearm.  Regardless, police recommend all gun owners keep their weapons safely secured.

“Remember if you do have children in the home their safety is paramount as well as your safety.  The message is we want people to be safe whenever you’re carrying or storing a firearm,” said Young.

In the first two months of 2023 IMPD has already investigated at least two accidental deaths involving teens, including the first homicide of the year inside a home along Arlington court on Indy’s east side.

“We’ve seen too many kids that have been hurt because weapons have been left in places they can get to,” said IMPD chief Randal Taylor in January.

Just last month IMPD’s chief issued a community wide alert insisting that accidental shootings, like the one that wounded the 3-year-old child, are avoidable with some simple safety precautions.

Police say the case serves as an important safety lesson.

“It’s certainly concerning to our agency and officers.  We want people to be educated about gun safety if you’re going to be carrying a firearm, in particular when you have a child involved,” said Young.

So far no arrests have been made in the shooting Friday morning.  As always it will be up to the prosecutor’s office to decide if any criminal charges should be filed in this case.

This story is developing and will be updated with more information.