Wichita police say a 4-year-old boy was critically injured when he was accidentally shot in the head with an air rifle at his home.

Police Sgt. Bart Brunscheen says the boy was hospitalized Sunday evening after being shot with a .177-caliber air rifle.

He said the pellet penetrated the boy’s skull.

Brunscheen said a male in the home apparently was cleaning the rifle when it fired.