A scary incident occurred in Spanish Fork, Utah, on Monday, May 22, 2023. A 2-year-old male toddler was happily playing outside at Leap Ahead Daycare when he suddenly stumbled and started bleeding from the head. His teachers quickly took action but could not find the cause of the bleed and contacted his parents. It was not until he was getting checked out at the hospital that doctors discovered a bullet in the toddler’s head.
Police discovered an unidentified man was shooting birds in a nearby open field. It is unknown at this time if he will face charges. The toddler is expected to make a full recovery.
The Spanish Fork Police Department spoke out about this incident. “The daycare notified the parents of the 2-year-old child who responded and took their child to the hospital for treatment. It was not until at the hospital that doctors discovered through scans that the child had a small caliber bullet lodged in its head,” the department stated.
Once the bullet was discovered, the toddler's medical team made the decision to transfer him so he could receive the best care. He was sent to Primary Children’s Hospital. He was in stable condition at that time.
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Police called the incident a “tragic accident” and do not believe it was committed with ill intent. “Open fields are directly west of the daycare and it is believed the round may have come from that area,” they explained.
Day care owner Lane Mugleston was in disbelief that something like this could happen. “We are absolutely surprised. We are dumbfounded that this would happen in Spanish Fork,” he told NBC News affiliate KSL.
The day care owner added, “Safety for the children and staff in our care has always been our number one priority. We are praying for him and his family, and we are hopeful for a full recovery. We are also praying for the shooter and his family. I am sure he had absolutely no idea that his bullet would travel as far as it did.”
The unidentified man who is allegedly responsible for the stray bullet is cooperating with police at this time. He was shooting a .22-caliber air rifle in an open field that was west of the day care. Once the investigation is over, it will be up to the Spanish Fork prosecutor’s office to decide if charges are warranted in this case. The shooter's name will be kept private unless charges are brought against him.
Thankfully, the toddler is expected to make a full recovery. The bullet will stay in his head for now because doctors believe removing it could cause further damage. They will reevaluate this decision as time goes on.
