Staff report

WOODLEAF — A 14-year-old boy was flown to a Winston-Salem hospital Wednesday after he was accidentally shot at a Woodleaf home.

The shooting occurred at 11:04 a.m. at a home at 2755 Needmore Road, where the teenager was shot in the left side of his abdominal area. Deputies determined that two 14-year-old boys were in the home at the time of the shooting.

Responders from the Woodleaf Volunteer Fire Department and Rowan County EMS provided care at the scene to the teen, who was flown from the scene by helicopter to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office issued a citation to the homeowner, Rebecca Dawn Cranford, 35, for misdemeanor failure to properly store a firearm to protect minors.

Rowan authorities said deputies were told that the boy was shot with a Rossi .410 gauge single-barrel shotgun.

The teens went outside about 11 a.m. to shoot the shotgun. One of them was holding the loaded shotgun and attempted to lower the hammer on the weapon or put the hammer in a de-cocked position. As he teen did so, he accidentally let go of the hammer about halfway down, which caused the shotgun to discharge.

The blast from the shotgun of No. 8 “birdshot” struck the other 14-year-old boy in his left side. The boys immediately called 911 to report the shooting.

The Rossi shotgun and fired shell casing were seized as evidence.

Cranford is expected in court Feb. 5.

According to Rowan County 911 communications, the teen was conscious and breathing at the scene.

A neighbor who declined to provide his name said he heard a shot and thought someone was target shooting.

In addition to Rowan EMS, Woodleaf and Scotch Irish fire departments responded.

No information was immediately available on the condition of the teen shooting victim.