UPDATE: Police suspect 4-year-old accidentally shot himself - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A four-year-old Youngstown boy is recovering from a gunshot wound to the face.

Detectives suspect Tristian Jackson found a family member's loaded gun and accidentally shot himself.

The shooting happened at approximately 7:30 a.m. Friday morning inside of an apartment at 610 Kendis Circle.

Youngstown police were notified by St. Elizabeth Health Center after the child was taken to the emergency room by private car.

The bullet appears to have hit the child in his cheek, near his ear, according to a family member and police. Fortunately, it did not hit or enter the child's cranium, the portion of the skull that surrounds the brain.

Youngstown Police Chief Rod Foley tells 21 News, "Thankfully right now he's listed in critical, but stable condition. He was talking when he went to the emergency room. We're trying to figure out how he had access to a semi-automatic pistol."

Detectives have learned that at least five other people were in the apartment at the time, including two infants.

Sometime after the victim's father left for work Friday morning, a family member heard the gunshot.

When questioned by police, the four-year-olds father told police that he had a 9-millimeter gun under the bed and it was loaded.

Now someone in the apartment could face a criminal charge of child endangerment.

"So you've got to be cautious. Unfortunately, someone may be getting charged with this incident when it's all said and done because they were careless with a loaded firearm," Chief Foley said.

Mike Miller, a firearms expert at Miller Rod & Gun, Inc. in Youngstown, says every parent with a firearm needs to assume the responsibility of owning a gun, and that means taking every precaution to prevent the weapon from getting into the wrong hands.

"The parents are the first line of defense in understanding that something as simple as a small case that locks the firearm safely away from that child costs a few dollars and can save multiple lives," Miller said,

Several local police departments also have free gun locks available, you just have to ask.

Authorities say it only takes a few minutes to make sure your gun is locked and secure, one level of prevention to ensure that your child will stay safe.