An Ocean County girl is hospitalized after she was shot during a gun-cleaning mishap, authorities said.
Edgar Baerga, 47, of Stafford Township, was cleaning a gun at his residence on Saturday afternoon when the weapon fired and a round struck a 13-year-old girl on the right side of her torso, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Baerga drove the child to a local hospital before contacting police, the prosecutor’s office said.
Stafford Township Police responded to Southern Ocean Medical Center in Stafford following a 911 call about the wounded child.
The girl was then taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she was listed in stable condition, officials said.
Baerga was charged on a summons with second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and fourth-degree aggravated assault.
Stories by Matt Gray
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.