A 2-year-old boy who was unintentionally shot in the head while sleeping was showing signs of improvement at an Anchorage hospital, police said Tuesday.
Anchorage police identified the toddler Tuesday as Ashton Chinnis, son of Anchorage Police Officer Calvin Chinnis. The boy was struck by a stray bullet Sunday night when a neighbor was manipulating a handgun and accidentally fired a shot, said police spokesman David Parker.
The stray bullet passed through a condominium wall at the family's East Anchorage home and struck the child on the top of the head, Parker said. The boy was in his bed at the time, police say.
"He is still hospitalized in intensive care and the medical staff is guardedly optimistic about his recovery as he shows signs of improvement," Parker wrote in a statement to reporters Tuesday morning.
The man who fired the shot is 26-year-old Ronald Flannigon, of Anchorage, police said. Flannigon told police he was manipulating a handgun in a neighboring condo and unintentionally fired the weapon.
Flannigon, who was interviewed and released by police, was with his wife and brother-in-law at the time of the incident, Parker said.
Police found no sign the trio had been drinking at the time, he said.
A Facebook profile for a Ronald Flannigon with Anchorage connections includes a profile photo of a man posing with seven assorted firearms. Asked if the profile is for the man involved in the shooting, Parker said it appears to be the same person.
"The detective said, 'I don't think all of those firearms in the photograph are his'," Parker said.
Citing the ongoing investigation, Parker said police are not ready to describe the make or caliber of the handgun involved in the shooting.
"There were multiple firearms in the home," Parker said.
Parker said it's too early to say if any charges would be filed in the unintentional shooting.
"At this point they still have to finish their investigation before they talk to the (district attorney)" he said.
Twitter updates: twitter.com/adn_kylehopkins. Call Kyle Hopkins at 257-4334 or email him at khopkins@adn.com.
By KYLE HOPKINS
Anchorage Daily News