A 16-year-old Chaska boy was critically wounded when his best friend shot an arrow that struck him in the head, authorities said Monday.
The incident occurred about 6:25 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of Stanford Circle, near the boys' homes, according to police.
The two boys are best friends, the family of the teen with the bow and arrow said in a statement issued through attorney Marsh Halberg.
"I don't think there was any horseplay," Halberg said, noting that "the arrow ricocheted off the ground. The arrow never had a tip on it."
The statement added that "the young man [who shot the arrow] and his family are grief-stricken at the tragic accident that occurred. ... We believe this was truly a tragic accident. No alcohol or drugs were involved."
The wounded boy remains at Hennepin County Medical Center.
The boy was riding to the bow handler's home, when the arrow struck him in the head, said Police Chief Scott Knight. There were no other people in the immediate area, which the chief described as "open green space" in a residential neighborhood.
Knight said that Chaska prohibits the discharge of weapons -- and that includes bows -- within city limits. For the most part, those violations are considered misdemeanors, he added.
