A tragic incident unfolded in Johnson County, Tennessee, over the weekend when a 10-year-old boy was reportedly shot by his uncle. This information comes from court documents reviewed by News Channel 11.

The unsettling event occurred on Saturday evening in the Laurel Bloomery Community. Authorities were alerted to the situation on Waters Road around 9 p.m. following a 911 call that described the shooting as an “accident.” The suspect, identified as Joshua Houston Upright, allegedly shot his young nephew.

When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they discovered the boy suffering from a gunshot wound located just behind his left ear. Emergency responders promptly airlifted him to Johnson City Medical Center for urgent medical attention.

Inside the residence, a woman recounted to police that she had been asleep when she was abruptly awakened by a loud noise. Upon investigating, she witnessed Upright standing over the boy with a firearm aimed at his head. Allegedly, Upright then turned the weapon towards her.

According to the affidavit, the woman managed to disarm Upright. During the confrontation, she claimed Upright said, “he had to do it,” and expressed fears that he intended to harm the entire family.

A thorough search of the home led officers to discover a .22 caliber rifle along with several spent bullet casings, adding more gravity to the allegations.

Upright was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse/neglect and aggravated assault (domestic violence).

As of Monday, Upright is being held at the Johnson County Jail on a $1 million bond. He’s set to appear in court on Wednesday.

No update on the juvenile has been provided.