6-year-old shot in Washington County

A 6-year-old Washington County boy is hospitalized after he was accidentally shot in the back by his 4-year-old brother, police said.

The shooting happened about 5 p.m. Saturday near Enterprise. Washington County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Rob Tersigni said the victim was out target shooting with his grandfather.

"Grandpa was helping the 6-year-old unjam a rifle and I guess the younger brother grabbed a hold of the pistol and shot him in the back," he told the Deseret News.

The boy was shot in the upper back with a .22-caliber handgun. Tersigni said the boy's parents put him in a car to get him medical help. An ambulance met the family on state Route 18 and took the boy to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. Deputies said he was last reported to be in stable condition.

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com