A 13-year-old boy was critically wounded in the Fuller Park shooting, and police recovered a handgun from the residence.
CHICAGO — A 13-year-old boy was critically injured Friday afternoon after a 9-year-old boy fired a handgun inside a home on the city’s South Side, Chicago police said.
The shooting happened at about 4 p.m. in the 5200 block of South Wells Street in the Fuller Park neighborhood. Police said the younger child was inside the residence with a firearm when one shot was fired, striking the 13-year-old in the shoulder.
The wounded boy was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was reported in critical condition. Authorities had not released an updated condition as of Saturday morning.
Officers recovered a handgun at the scene, according to police. Investigators have not publicly explained how the 9-year-old obtained access to the firearm or what happened immediately before the gun was fired.
Police also had not disclosed whether the shooting was believed to be accidental or intentional. No information was immediately released about the relationship between the two children or whether adults were inside the home at the time.
The names of the children have not been released. Both are minors, and authorities have provided only limited information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Police had not announced any arrests or charges in connection with the case. Authorities also had not said who owned the handgun recovered from the residence.
The investigation remained underway Saturday as detectives worked to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting and how the firearm came to be accessible inside the home.
Author note: Last updated September 5, 2026.