Chaska Police Investigate After Teen Critically Injured by Arrow

Chaska police say a 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was hit in the head with an arrow shot by his best friend.

It happened around 6 p.m. Saturday.

Police say a 16-year-old boy shot the arrow.

The two boys are friends and live in the area where it happened.  

They were not playing with the bow and arrow together, the boy who was shot was riding his bike.

Chaska Police Chief Scott Knight says, "This is a very tragic event, or accidental event, the exact circumstance and how everything unfolded we don't know yet fully understand, but we will."

The injured boy was taken to 212 Medical Center in Chaska before being transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he remains.

Marsh Halberg, a lawyer contacted by the family of the boy who shot the arrow, issued a statement Monday afternoon saying the teen and his family are grief stricken about the tragic accident involving the two best friends.

The victim was accidentally shot in the head with a blunt shaft arrow, according to the statement.

"We believe this was truly a tragic accident. No alcohol or drugs were involved," the statement says.

Police are investigating the incident, and will determine if charges will be filed against the 16 year old who shot the arrow.

Neighbors in the area where the incident happened are overwhelmed with sadness.

Joe Fielder lives on the block, and says he knows all the families involved, it was hard for him to come up with words to describe how much everyone is hurting, "I know these boys and (pauses) it's just a horrible accident."