Police: 12-year-old boy shot in southeast Atlanta

ATLANTA - Atlanta Police said they will be discussing with the Fulton County District Attorney if charges are necessary for the shooting of a 12-year-old boy early Thursday in southeast Atlanta.

Officers said the incident happened at an apartment complex in the 900 block of Confederate Avenue just after midnight. The child, identified by police as Brian Sosby, Jr., was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where he underwent emergency surgery for a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was listed in critical, but stable condition as of Thursday afternoon.

"Right now it does appear to be an accident. There was a social gathering inside the residence and the person pulled out the gun to show it to someone else and at some point, he pulled the trigger, and the young man was in front of the barrel of the weapon and he was subsequently shot," said Major Adam Lee III, Atlanta Police Department Major Crimes Section Commander.

FOX 5’S Patty Pan spoke with a woman who wanted to be identified by Tawanna. She said she is the sister of the man who was holding the gun at the time of the shooting. She said her brother, who is in his 20s, was scared and never has been in trouble a day in his life.

"When you're dealing with a situation like that, you're dealing with a lot of psychological issues, fear, panic, so, it's not unreasonable on our behalf to think that someone might leave and then as this young man did, he thought about it and he called and turned himself in," said Major Lee.

Lee said the man, who they believe is a friend of the child’s father, will not face charges for fleeing, but may face charges for the shooting.

"More than likely he will be charged. To what extent, we don't know. We have to interview witnesses and that will give us a clear indication if there was any intent or malice to shoot the young man," said Lee.

Police said the man is cooperating with the investigation and turned over the gun to investigators.

Lee said at least one other child was present at the time of the shooting.