Glendale police: Father arrested after 6-year-old daughter accidentally shot

GLENDALE, Ariz. (FOX 10) - Glendale police say a man has been arrested after his 6-year-old daughter was shot while he was "recklessly manipulating and handling" a shotgun.

According to the Glendale Police Department, the shooting happened at a home near 75th and Glendale Avenues on April 25.

Police say the father, identified as 26-year-old Eldon Mcinville, was cleaning a loaded shotgun and while walking to another part of the house to put it away, he tripped and dropped the shotgun, causing it to discharge.

The child was walking near Mcinville when the shotgun went off and she was shot.

When first responders arrive at the scene, they administered life-saving care to the girl and she was airlifted to a hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

"We saw the helicopter land and saw them being her out," said neighbor Marie Spencer. "They didn't bring her out real fast. They kind of hesitated. But they brought her out got in the helicopter and took off."

Police say Mcinville "was recklessly manipulating and handling the firearm" before he tripped and fell, causing the shotgun to discharge and strike his daughter.

Mcinville has been booked into jail on charges of child abuse and aggravated assault.