Man charged after 8-year-old accidentally shot mother at Memphis baseball game

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (WREG) -- A woman is in critical condition after her 8-year-old son accidentally shot her while at a baseball game Tuesday night, Millington Police said.

According to Chief Mark Dunbar, the child got hold of the gun after finding it in a bag inside of an antique WWII vehicle that was on display at the Millington USA Stadium. The child and his mother were attending a Memphis versus UT Martin baseball game.

"The juvenile believed it was a toy gun. He picked the gun up, pulled the trigger and accidentally shot his mother. It was an accident, pure and simple," Dunbar said.

The mother was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but she was conscious.

Fans evacuated as the stadium became an active scene.

Police charged the owner of the gun, Charles McFarland, 76, with reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

"Secure your weapons. If you got a weapon, everybody's got a right to carry if they've got a permit. But you need to use common sense about securing your weapons," Dunbar said.