A shooting in Lehigh Monday night has been called accidental by the Lee County Sheriff’s investigators. They said the accident occurred when Wayne Harold Wheeler, 25, was cleaning a .22 caliber rifle when it accidentally discharged, hitting his seven-year-old stepson, Gavin Starner.

The accidental shooting occurred Monday night shortly after 8 p.m., according to Sgt. Stephanie Eller. The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 8:16 p.m. reporting a seven-year-old had received a gunshot wound to the chest.

The shooting occurred at their home at 1614 Fitch Ave., in Lehigh, Eller said.

The investigation revealed an adult in the home had been cleaning his rifle with it accidentally discharged.

According to a Sheriff’s report, the child had been sitting next to the adult who was cleaning the rifle when the incident occurred.

Eller said the bullet traveled through the child and lodged into a wall. Several family members were in the home when the incident occurred.

The child was airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, authorities said.