LOCAL : Shotgun Blast Wounds Boy, 15

A 15-year-old North Hollywood boy who was taking a photograph of his cousin posing with a sawed-off shotgun was critically wounded when the weapon fired and struck him, Los Angeles police said today.

The shotgun blast hit Rene Guerrero in the head about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in his home in the 11500 block of Kittridge Street, police said. He was in critical condition and on life support equipment at AMI Medical Center of North Hollywood, where he underwent surgery this morning.

Guerrero’s 18-year-old cousin, Juan Gomez, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Detective Mike Coffey said that while the shooting appears accidental, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office will determine whether Gomez should be charged with any crime for recklessly handling the gun.

Guerrero and Gomez were in a bedroom when the shooting took place, Coffey said. Guerrero’s 12-year-old brother was also in the bedroom and his parents were in the kitchen, eating dinner.

Gomez was being held without bail at the North Hollywood station jail. Gomez had been living with the Guerrero family for about three months since coming from Mexico.