Calera man charged in shooting that injured 10-year-old

Hoover police have arrested and charged a 24-year-old Calera man in a shooting which occurred the night of Nov. 8.

Quintin Ladarius Entin has been charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied building after an investigation showed Entin was reportedly handling the loaded gun and “inadvertently fired the weapon,” according to a press release from police. His bond has been set at $15,000. Entin also admitted to smoking marijuana before handling the gun, said Lt. Keith Czeskleba.

The gunshot sent a bullet through the wall of the apartment Entin was in and into an adjacent apartment at Warringwood Heights Apartments on Warringwood Drive, according to police, and struck a 10-year-old male in the groin. Entin reportedly left the apartment when officer arrived, but he later turned himself in and was questioned by Hoover Police.

The 10-year-old was transferred to Children’s Hospital and is in a stable condition, according to police.

“It is very fortunate that no one was killed in this incident,” said Lt. Keith Czeskleba. “The victim’s apartment was occupied with several family members, one of which was nearly struck while sitting on the couch.”

Czeskleba said it is important to treat all firearms as if they are loaded to protect against this sort of accident.

“Our thoughts are with the victim and his family and we wish him a speedy recovery,” he said.