Man charged after 5-year-old boy fatally shot inside Henrico apartment

Henrico Police arrested a 26-year-old man after a 5-year-old boy was fatally shot inside an apartment in Henrico County on Saturday afternoon, WTVR CBS 6 reported.

Police say the child found an unsecured firearm shortly after arriving at the Cool Lane Commons apartments and accidentally shot himself. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene, according to WTVR.

The man, who does not live at the apartment but frequently stays there, was charged with improper storage of firearms and allowing access to firearms by children, WRIC 8News and NBC12 reported.

Authorities noted that the man routinely carries a gun without a holster and places it unsecured on furniture in the apartment, which has secure storage options for firearms, according to the criminal complaint cited by WTVR.

The incident occurred near the Richmond-Henrico line in the East Highland Park neighborhood, close to Route 360 and Interstate 64, WTVR said.

The man was taken to Henrico Jail and held without bond as the investigation continues.