Brownsville dad arrested in toddler's shooting

Police arrested a father Tuesday for allegedly shooting his toddler in the shoulder, leaving her in critical condition. The 19-year-old father faces weapon possession and endangering the welfare of a

News 12 Staff

Apr 2, 2008, 8:32 PM

Updated 6,031 days ago

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Police arrested a father Tuesday for allegedly shooting his toddler in the shoulder, leaving her in critical condition.
The 19-year-old father faces weapon possession and endangering the welfare of a child charges. Police responded to a gunfire call at the Marcus Garvey Village apartments on Chester Street after midnight.Authorities say they found 2-year-old Serenity Ballanger bleeding from a gunshot wound to her shoulder. The girl is listed in critical, but stable condition at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. News 12 Brooklyn has learned that the toddler may have helped authorities make the arrest.
"I asked her, I said, 'What happened Serenity? Who did this to your arm?'" said the victim's grandmother, Phyllis Bell. "She said, 'My daddy.'"According to Bell, the victim and her mother were visiting the suspect before the shots rang out. The girl's father might have been playing with the gun before it discharged, according to unconfirmed reports.