A 9-year-old boy from Naples was hospitalized late Thursday night after being shot in the head with a pellet gun.

In a statement released by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Capt. Jeff Davis said the boy, Gavin Gilmore, suffered a life-threatening injury when a pellet from the .177-caliber gun lodged in the front of his brain.

Authorities arrested Daniel McGill, 26, of Naples, whom they identified as the boy’s uncle.

McGill was charged with aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and assault on a police officer. He was held in the Cumberland County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.

Davis said McGill made statements that he accidentally shot his nephew while shooting at squirrels in the backyard of the home at 409 Lambs Mill Road in Naples.

The boy’s mother, Bevin Greer, 34, was in the home but did not see the shooting, Davis said.

Deputies went to the home around 5:30 p.m. in response to a report of the shooting. They found the boy, who was taken by ambulance to Bridgton Hospital, before being transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Gilmore is listed in serious condition at Maine Medical Center.

Davis said that as Sgt. Josh Potvin questioned McGill, he noticed that McGill “appeared to be extremely intoxicated.”

During the interview, McGill became confrontational and shoved Potvin when he tried to retrieve the pellet gun. Potvin sustained a cut on a hand.

McGill sustained minor injuries to his face.

More details will be released pending the findings of the investigation.

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com