Corio boy Jake Davis allegedly shot by relative

A Corio boy has been left with ammunition lodged in his body after he was shot by a family member.

Kristy Meyer and her son Jake Davis, who was shot in the stomach.

A Corio boy who was allegedly shot in the stomach by a young relative is living with a bullet lodged in his body.

A man has been charged following the incident, which occurred in late December when 10-year-old Jake Davis was staying with family in Inverleigh.

The shooter – a 13-year-old, female member of the extended family – did not realise the gun was loaded and thought the safety was on, Jake’s mum Kristy Meyer said.

Ms Meyer, who was at her home in Corio at the time, said it was a “total accident”.

She said the gun, a rifle, belonged to a person known to her extended family.

Police have charged a 50-year-old Inverleigh man with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and reckless conduct endangering a person.

“He was charged following an alleged firearms incident where a 10-year-old boy was injured,” Victoria Police spokesman Leading Senior-Constable Adam West said.

The man was interviewed and charged on March 10 and bailed to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court on July 7.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Constable West said.

Ms Meyer said following the incident, she “had that many missed calls it wasn’t funny”.

“Everyone was crying,” she said.

Jake was shot in the stomach.

Ms Meyer said she was “hysterical” and went to Geelong hospital to meet her son.

“It was the scariest thing of my life,” she said.

Jake was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and whisked off for surgery.

Ms Meyer said the bullet could not be removed — where it was lodged made this “too dangerous”.

“I was told I was blessed he was alive,” she said.

“It was miraculous.”

Jake was in the Royal Children’s Hospital for about two weeks, and Ms Meyer said the staff were “amazing”.

Ms Meyer said despite a metal bullet still being lodged inside of him, Jake did not have any ongoing issues and the clever, sport fanatic grade five student was “absolutely great”.

Ms Meyer, who also has two other kids, spent some time at Ronald McDonald House while Jake was in hospital.

She said it was “absolutely amazing” to have the help of the charity, which supports seriously ill or injured kids and their families.

On Saturday, as part of a “spin challenge” teams of up to 10 riders will cycle on stationary bikes across 10 hours with the aim to raise 313 nights of accommodation at a Ronald McDonald House (equivalent to $50,000). 

Ronald McDonald House Charities Vic and Tas will also see 31 riders compete in a road race on Friday.

Participants will ride either 60km or 100km across Melbourne, with the aim of raising 156 nights of accommodation at a Ronald McDonald House (equivalent to $25,000). 

For more information or to donate, visit: https://www.rmhcvictas.org.au/event/rfsk2023/rfsk-home-page

Originally published as Corio boy Jake Davis allegedly shot by relative