Child was hit by a stray bullet at a daycare in Utah

The boy was playing outside when he was hit in the head, police said.

A two-year-old boy was hit in the head by a stray bullet Monday while playing outside at a daycare center in Spanish Fork, police said Tuesday.

The child was struck while playing with several other children in a vinyl fence-enclosed area at the Leap Ahead Childcare Center near 2000 North and 300 West in Spanish Fork, police confirmed. Two adults were watching the children at this point.

When the boy was beaten, he appeared to stumble and was seen “bleeding from his face,” according to a press release.

Educators called the child’s parents, who took the boy to a hospital. There, doctors learned through scans that a small-caliber bullet was lodged in his head, police said.

The boy was transferred to the Primary Children’s Hospital. No information was given about his condition, but he is considered stable, the statement said. He has not been identified.

Investigators said the bullet that struck the child may have been fired from a field directly west of the daycare, the press release said. The press release did not specify whether police identified who started the fire.

“It appears there was a tragic accident,” Spanish Fork Police said in the release. Investigators continue to investigate.

A message left at the daycare was not immediately returned on Tuesday. According to a company website, Leap Ahead Childcare Center is one of three Leap Ahead daycare locations. The other two are in Springville; The Spanish Fork facility recently opened.

— This is an evolving story and will be updated.