Deputies: 3-year-old shoots 1-year-old sibling in face

VENICE, Fla. — A 3-year-old boy accidentally shot his 1-year-old sister in the face, authorities say.

According to Sarasota County sheriff's deputies, the shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. Friday in a car outside the Sonshine Learning Center in Venice, south of Sarasota. They said the children were alone in the car at the time and a gun was left inside.

"The 3-year-old located a handgun that was in the vehicle and discharged a round which resulted in the striking of the 1-year-old," said Sarasota Sheriff's Office Lt. Vince Mayer.

The child was flown to Bayfront Health and then was transferred to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg with non-life threatening injuries.

Pictures include a blood-stained child seat and a shell casing on the ground outside the vehicle.

Deputies said the children's mother was not inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting. They provided no further information.

"It's a tragic accident and detectives are investigating see if at some point in time there will be any criminal charges," Mayer said.