TOLEDO, Ohio — An 18-year-old is in the hospital after getting shot in west Toledo, and his mother says the family fears he may be suffering from brain death.
Officers arrived at the 6100 block of Merle Street on a person shot call around 4 p.m. Sunday.
Police found 18-year-old Andrew Wheeler suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital. Family members on Monday said he remains on life support.
According to Renee Wheeler, Andrew's mother, he was shot in the neck and he also has a broken neck.
She said that one of Andrew's best friends, who is 19, was at the house and had a gun. The mother said they were planning on playing Fortnite. The best friend had the gun, took a clip out and racked the gun, and there was still a bullet in the chamber. The gun went off somehow, she said.
The friend took off running, Renee Wheeler said, but he was eventually questioned by police. She said they're treating this as an accidental shooting. The gun was not stolen but also was not registered to the friend.
Another neighbor added that there have been several incidents at the home involving police since he moved onto the street six months ago.
"Ever since I moved in, I think about three times," he said. "Cops have been at the house. Today was different, I came here and seen like six, seven cop cars and it was very concerning."
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