WOODLAND – An early-morning incident has led to a pair of charges for a Woodland man.

James Melvin Williams, 41, of 406 Ashe Street is in the Northampton County Jail charged with domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

Woodland Police Chief Don Ryan said he was called to the home at approximately 1:20 a.m. Monday, but when he arrived the victim had been taken to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital.

During his preliminary questions, Ryan was told the shooting of a 13-year-old juvenile was accidental. The weapon involved in the shooting was a shotgun.

Upon returning to the scene to take photographs and collect evidence, Ryan began to question Williams. He said some of the answers didn’t match earlier statements, causing him to question the veracity of the story.

Ryan returned to RCH to question the child’s mother and found that the juvenile had been taken to Pitt Memorial Hospital.

&uot;After talking to the child’s mother, I found out that there was an altercation and that she had asked the child to call the police,&uot; Ryan said. &uot;When the child entered the room the gun went off and he was shot in the lower right leg.&uot;

Ryan said his investigation revealed that Williams had been drinking and had pushed the child’s mother before the shooting.

Williams was arrested and placed under a $10,000 bond for the deadly weapon charge and was serving the mandatory 48-hour domestic violence cool-down period.

The child was still in Pitt Memorial Hospital as of press time Wednesday where he was listed in fair condition.