An off-duty police officer in New York reportedly shot his young son by accident on Tuesday night while unloading his gun at home.
The New York Post reported on Wednesday that Jon Gigantiello, an officer with the Metropolitan Transit Authority, was at their home in Smithtown, N.Y. and unloading the gun when it suddenly fired, wounding his own hand and hitting his 3-year-old son.
The toddler was admitted to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center before being moved to Stony Brook University Hospital for surgery. According to Newsday, police revealed that the boy suffered “grazing bullet wounds to his belly and arm” but was expected to survive.
Gigantiello, an 11-year veteran of the force who works in its K-9 unit, was also treated at Stony Brook University Hospital for his injuries. According to an MTA spokesman, Gigantiello is currently on sick leave.
“We are aware of the shooting incident involving the off-duty MTA Police Officer, which is being investigated by the Suffolk County Police Department,” said MTA spokesman Salvatore Arena. “The MTA PD Internal Affairs Bureau will investigate once the Suffolk PD completes its investigation.”
