A Schuylkill County man admitted to shooting his son in their home Tuesday, calling it an accident.

Nevin Paul Ebener, 30, of Orwigsburg has been charged with aggravated assault and related charges for allegedly shooting his 8-year-old son in the arm and torso inside his apartment on the 200 block of East Market Street.

Police said Ebener brought the child to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Schuylkill East with a gunshot wound around midday Tuesday. He told hospital employees that he had accidentally shot the boy, according to a news release from the Orwigsburg Police Department.

The child suffered a broken arm, pelvis, as well as serious internal injuries. He was airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Cedar Crest with life-threatening injuries, police said.

Orwigsburg Police interviewed Ebener, who said he had taken his Abrams 1911 .45-caliber from a kitchen cabinet where he had it stored and momentarily placed it on a countertop. Ebener told police the gun “just went off” when he went to pick it up off the counter, hitting the child at close range.

A person who was near the apartment at the time told police that they heard a gunshot around 11:30 a.m. in the morning.

Police searched Ebener’s home and found other weapons unsecured as well as drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Ebener was arraigned and sent to Schuylkill County Prison. His bail was set at 10 percent of $75,000.

Assisting in the investigation were Schuylkill County Children and Youth, Schuylkill Haven Police and Pottsville Police.