Parents charged after boy, 2, is shot by by cousin, 4

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - The mother and father of a two-year-old boy, who was shot in the chest and finger by his four-year-old cousin on Thursday, are now facing a number of charges.

Rachel Santiago, and Omar Laboy-Vega have both been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and related offenses as a result of the incident that left the child in critical condition Thursday afternoon. Laboy-Vega is also facing a weapons charge.

The incident occurred on the 3500 block of North 9 th Street at 4:23 p.m. Thanksgiving day.

Police say a two-year-old boy suffered gunshot wound after being accidentally shot by hisfour4-year-old cousin. He was taken to Temple Hospital by police in critical condition. He was later taken to St Christopher's Hospital.

The incident happened on the first floor in the living room where the two-year-old boy was playing with his four-year-old cousin, who accidentally discharged the 40-caliber weapon. Police are trying to determine how the gun ended up in the hands of the young boy.

The victim's mother was in the kitchen at the time preparing Thanksgiving dinner when the shooting occurred.