A Florida grandmother shot her 7-year-old grandson early Tuesday morning after mistaking him for an intruder, according to The Associated Press.
Linda Maddox, 63, and her twin grandsons were asleep in their Tampa home after the boy's father left for work, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff's officials. Maddox said she put a chair against the bedroom door handle for extra protection, but around 1 a.m. she heard the chair sliding against the floor.
Assuming it was an intruder, Maddox quickly grabbed her loaded .22-caliber revolver that she keeps by her bed and fired a single shot toward the door, AP reported.
Although she did not see who she shot because the lights were off, Maddox was horrified to hear her grandson, Tyler Maddox, scream in pain, according to AP via the deputies.
Tyler was shot in the upper body and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital where he is in critical but stable condition, according to ABC News.
Just last year, a West Virginia grandmother accidentally killed her 11-year-old grandson as he slept. Tina Owens, 57, heard noises outside her house on Aug. 30 and began shooting at what she thought were intruders tampering with her and her son's home, who lives next door about 200 yards away. One of the bullets went through her son's home and struck her grandson, William, as he lay in bed sleeping, according to WV Metro News.
It is unknown if charges will be filed against Linda Maddox.
