It happened just before 7:00pm in the 6200 block of Cardiff Street in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia.
Police say the young mother was downstairs and her 4 year old son was upstairs when she heard a loud pop.
Investigators say when officers pulled up to the home, the 23 year old mother met them on the street holding her 4 year old son who had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.
Police say the mother kept a 9-millimeter handgun under a pillow on her bed for protection. But Saturday around 7:00pm, her son found the weapon and somehow shot through the pillow injuring himself.
"You have a right to carry. You have a right to defend yourself, but you have to keep your kids safe, that's just the bottom line," said Michele Barrine.
Responding officers rushed the boy to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children where he went into surgery in critical condition.
Detectives have a number of questions for the distraught mother.
"I say we pray for her and pray that the baby comes through before we rush to any type of judgment about her or about this situation," said John Barrine.
Police wouldn't talk about possible charges at this point. They say Northeast Detectives and the Special Victims Unit are investigating.
