Man charged in shooting of 3-year-old

RONAN — A 26-year-old Lake County man has been charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of a 3-year-old boy on Wednesday.

Galen Hawk was charged Friday by the Lake County Attorney’s Office, according to Lake County Public Information Officer Karen Sargeant, who said Hawk made his first court appearance Friday afternoon.

The boy died of a single gunshot wound to the torso, the State Medical Examiner determined Friday. The gun was a small-caliber handgun.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 8:22 p.m. Wednesday from a family member of the boy, saying they were bringing him to St. Luke Community Healthcare in Ronan with a gunshot wound. He later died at the hospital.

The incident occurred at a residence on Eagle Pass Trail, which is north and east of the Ninepipe Reservoir between Ronan and St. Ignatius.

Hawk is not related to the boy, but was living at the home where the shooting occurred, according to Sargeant.