Va. Beach father arrested in shooting of 4-year-old son

VIRGINIA BEACH

A father was charged with felony child neglect and his 4-year-old son remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday, a day after what police called an accidental shooting.

Petty Officer 1st Class Nicholas A. Pierce, 26, was arrested after a preliminary investigation into the shooting at his home in the 3800 block of Buckhorn Place on Thursday afternoon.

He was jailed without bond pending a hearing Tuesday.

Police and rescue workers responded around 4:16 p.m. after one of the child's parents called 911.

Responders found the boy suffering from a single gunshot wound to the hip.

The child was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police said he remained in critical condition Friday.

Neighbor Annie Holliday said she was home when police began arriving at Pierce's home. She saw a man standing outside looking distraught and heard a scream from that area, she said. Later, a boy was taken from the house on a stretcher, she said.

Neighbors gathered at her house, she said, and several children prayed for the boy's recovery.

Another neighbor, Christina Likens, said she didn't know Pierce well, but she had seen him outside playing with his son several times. A plastic playground and swing set were set up behind the house.

The Salem neighborhood is typically quiet, the neighbors said. Like Pierce, many residents work for the military.

Pierce enlisted in the Navy in 2004. He is an information systems technician based at the Center for Information Dominance Learning Site in Norfolk, where he is an instructor, according to the Navy.

Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Pierce declined an interview request Friday.

Sarah Hutchins, 757-222-5131, sarah.hutchins@pilotonline.com