BOUNTIFUL BOY, 12, ACCIDENTLY SHOT

Police Friday were investigating an accident that left a 12-year-old Bountiful boy in critical condition after he was shot in the face with a .22-caliber rifle.

Bountiful Police Lt. Don Taylor said his department will not release the boy's name because they believe it would be too traumatic for his family.The boy and a friend were apparently looking at or playing with the rifle in the basement of the victim's home in southeast Bountiful shortly after noon Thursday, Taylor said.

Although details of how the accident occurred are still sketchy, Taylor said the investigation so far indicates the shooting was accidental. The boy with the victim is still in shock, he said, and has been unable to provide police with much information.

Another 14-year-old boy in the home administered first aid, Taylor said, and the victim was transported by air ambulance to Primary Children's Medical Center, where he was listed in "extremely critical" condition after the shooting.