FIRESTONE - A man is in jail Sunday, accused of shooting his 5-year-old stepson in the leg late Saturday night.
Police said 29-year-old Nolberto Ojeda admitted to the shooting. However, they are still trying to determine whether it was an accident.
The shooting happened overnight in Firestone, a city about 30 miles northeast of Denver on the I-25 corridor.
According to police, just after 10 o'clock Saturday night, Ojeda fired several shots into an alley by his home. At least one of the shots hit his stepson in the left leg.
The boy was rushed to Children's Hospital in Denver. Police say the 5-year-old had to undergo surgery overnight.
There is no word on his condition.
Ojeda had been drinking before the shooting happened, police said.
One neighbor said he heard Ojeda was trying to teach his stepson how to shoot a gun. However, another neighbor doesn't think this was an accident.
"I don't think it had anything to do with him teaching his child how to fire a weapon at all, in my personal opinion," says Abigail Mahalic. "Because of the way the shots sounded, they weren't evenly spaced, they weren't one or two."
Neighbors said they can't believe this could happen in their area.
"Firestone's a very quiet town," said Brandon Ohmie. "Very out of the ordinary, just very weird."
Detectives will be back at the scene today searching for further evidence. They will also be canvassing the neighborhood.
Even though the investigation is ongoing, Firestone Police Chief David Montgomery said Ojeda will face charges. Montgomery said charges will include felony child abuse, reckless endangerment, second-degree assault and felony possession of a firearm.
Chief Montgomery said this case will be handed over to the district attorney Monday morning.
He also stressed this was an isolated incident, and there is no threat to the community.
