Teen shot in head with arrow; Accident eyed

CHASKA, Minn. Police say a 16-year-old Chaska boy on a bicycle was critically wounded when a friend shot him in the head with an arrow.

It happened Saturday evening not far from the boys' homes. The wounded boy remains at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Chaska Police Chief Scott Knight says the arrow was shot in an "open green space" in a residential neighborhood. "It's just a very sad accident," he said, according to a report from CBS affiliate WCCO Minneapolis.

According to police, the boy on the bike was struck by the arrow while riding over to the friend's home. It is uncertain whether the friend saw the boy on the bike as he fired the arrow from his bow.

"Of course we all feel terrible," neighbor Ron Borg, who lived near the accident scene, told WCCO. "Nobody likes to see anybody get hurt by an accidental injury of any kind. I hope the best for him."

The Star Tribune reports no arrests have been made, and authorities continue to investigate. Police are not releasing the boys' names.

The family of the friend who fired the arrow issued a statement through an attorney on Monday: "The young man and his family are grief stricken at the tragic accident that occurred Saturday evening around 6pm. We believe this was truly a tragic accident. No alcohol or drugs were involved. The family asks for support and prayers for the young man who was shot as well as his entire family."

As reported by WCCO, the arrow that struck the boy had a simple alumninum shaft instead of the usual sharp tip used for targets or striking game. But even an arrow fired with a shaft can travel at a fast speed and be potentially deadly.