A Glen Burnie man who accidentally shot his 23-year-old son in the stomach with a shotgun Tuesday was charged with drug dealing and gun charges after police found marijuana in the home and discovered he was prohibited from owning firearms.
Ronald Phelps, 54, was cleaning the shotgun in the home in the 600 block of Kuethe Road at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday night when he accidentally shot his son, Anne Arundel County police said. The son was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he underwent surgery and was expected to survive.
Officers searched the home and found more than 200 grams of marijuana, a rifle and ammunition, police said. Phelps was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of marijuana, as well as illegally possessing a shotgun, rifle and ammunition as a prohibited person, police said. While detectives believe the shooting was accidental, they are conferring with the State's Attorney's office about whether to charge him in the shooting.
Police said the father did not know the gun was loaded when it went off, and the son was responsive on the way to the hospital.
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