A 20-month-old child is recovering after shooting himself in the foot and his father has been charged in the matter.

Detective Jonathan Merritt of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said a .22-caliber Crickett rifle, which the child shot himself with, and a shotgun leaning against a bed were confiscated from Timothy Eugene Russell Jr. of Aurelian Springs.

Russell was charged with storage of a firearm accessible to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The man was arrested Sunday following an investigation that began February 18 when the child was taken to Halifax Regional Medical Center for treatment of a gunshot wound to the foot.

Merritt said investigation shows Russell was performing some repairs on the weapon and left it lying on the washing machine where the child was able to get it and shoot himself. Russell was charged and released on a $2,500 bond and has a June 9 court date.