Man shot by 2-year-old at Virginia home in what police call an accidental shooting

A man is in critical condition after a 2-year-old accidentally shot and injured him in Virginia, police said Wednesday.

The man had "placed his handgun on a nearby chair" and was getting ready to leave the house in Petersburg Monday morning around 9:50 a.m. when the nearly 3-year-old toddler got hold of it and "accidentally discharged the firearm, shooting the victim," Chesterfield County Police Department said in a news release.

The victim was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition, police said. A department spokesperson told USA TODAY Wednesday morning the victim's status remained critical.

Victim is boyfriend of child's mother

No one else in the house, including the child, was injured in the incident, as per the police.

While the victim's identity has not yet been released, police said the victim is the boyfriend of the child's mother.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.