Police still investigating how 2 young boys got hands on loaded gun

LAKE STEVENS, Wash. -- A 3-year-old boy shot in the face by his 4-year-old friend is still in intensive care at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.

The bullet shattered the boy’s cheekbones and damaged his sinus cavity.

And while police are still investigating the shooting, right now no one is facing charges.

Michael Holzwarth, 3, is listed in critical condition at Harborview.

Police said the boy and another child were playing in a locked bedroom inside a Lake Stevens condo Friday night when Michael’s father, Jon Holzwarth, heard a loud noise and had to break into the locked bedroom to get to the children.

“I can’t believe that they would leave two kids in a room with a loaded gun,” said neighbor Buzz McLeod.

The bullet shot through Michael’s mouth, lodging in his sinus cavity. Half of his teeth on his upper jaw are gone. It’s likely he will need reconstructive surgery and speech therapy throughout his life.

“He’s just a darling kid,” said McLeod. “He’s so sweet he always says hi to me says hi to my wife and he loves my dog. He’s just a friendly as can be and just a cute, handsome kid.”

The boy Michael was playing with wasn’t hurt during the shooting.

Police will likely forward their case to county prosecutors to determine if Michael’s father would face any criminal charges in the case.

The family’s pastor said Michael’s grandmother had just received some gun locks – but they weren’t used to secure the firearm that injured the boy.