7-year-old child struck by bullet in London

A 44-year-old man has been charged after child was hit by a bullet over the weekend, CTV's Gerry Dewan reports.

A seven-year-old London girl is recovering after being struck by a bullet in a home over the weekend, according to police.

Neighbours told CTV News dozens of police officers, including members of the tactical unit, surrounded a home on Blanchard Crescent in northwest London around 4 p.m. Saturday.

London police Sgt. Sandasha Bough told CTV News, “Police responded after receiving information that a young child had been struck by a bullet earlier that day.”

Shortly after police arrived, they could be heard on a loudspeaker calling for someone to come outside. Bough said a man emerged and was quickly taken into custody, “A search incident to that arrest yielded a number of firearms inside of the home.”

Police report finding a handgun, a shotgun, an imitation firearm, and a starter pistol. They also found numerous shotgun shells and other ammunition.

Neighbors told CTV News that shortly after the man was taken into custody, they saw the child placed on a stretcher with a wrap around their lower leg and foot.

Bough said the incident reinforces the police service’s commitment to ensuring safe and responsible gun ownership, “Firearms in the hands of anyone could be dangerous. And this was a serious incident involving a young child. Thankfully, that child did not sustain life threatening injuries as a result of this.”

Police say that as of Tuesday afternoon, the girl remained in hospital.

A 44-year-old London man is charged

- Three counts of possession of firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order

- Possess restricted or prohibited firearm knowingly not holding a license

- Careless storage of firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition

- Fail to provide necessaries of life

Police say the suspect isn’t being identified in order to protect the identity of the victim.