Louisiana police: 'Adults' gave 'untruthful statements' after 5-year-old shoots 3-year-old

Authorities in Louisiana don't know how a 5-year-old boy managed to shoot a 3-year-old boy, but they are pretty sure that people taking care of the children are lying about the incident.

According to The News Star, Monroe Police Sgt. Mark Johnson said officers responded to reports that a 3-year-old had been shot by a 5-year-old playing with a gun after 1 p.m. on Thursday.

"We think there may be more going on than we’ve been told," Johnson explained. "This is a serious situation. Some people may have given us untruthful statements."

The mother told police that the older boy was playing with the gun when it went off and shot the younger boy. Several other adults and children were in the home at the time. The mother took the child to St. Francis Medical Center.

"There's more to this story and we're going to find out what it is," Johnson added to KNOE. "We're not happy with the story we're being told, and it's not good, and it's not looking good for this baby."

The boy remained in critical condition in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit as of Thursday night.

[Ed. note: A previous version of this report stated that the mother gave untruthful statements, but a later report by the News Star clarified that "other adults" could face charges for lying to police.

“We believe there will be some obstruction of justice charges pending,” Sgt. Mark Johnson told the paper. “Our investigators are working with the District Attorney’s Office.”]

Watch this video from KNOE, broadcast Aug. 1, 2013.

KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

[A boy holding two toy guns. Photo: Shutterstock.com.]

(h/t: Talking Points Memo)