Man charged after son, 7, accidentally shot himself in hand at Oakland homeless camp

OAKLAND — A man has been charged with child abuse and firearms crimes after his 7-year-old son shot himself in the hand last month at an East Oakland homeless camp with a gun the father illegally possessed, according to authorities and court records.

In addition to the child abuse count, John Shurn, 39, who has eight felony convictions, also is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, first-degree criminal firearm storage and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

Shurn, who has been in custody since the June 23 shooting, has pleaded not guilty to the charges; he is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing July 23. He is being held without bail on a probation violation.

The shooting happened the morning of June 23 at a homeless camp consisting mostly of recreation vehicles in the 2400 block of Embarcadero, in a portion of Union Point Park. The boy, who lives with a relative in another city, was visiting his father at the time of the shooting, authorities said.

Police did not learn of the shooting until Shurn brought his son to a hospital. Police initially were told conflicting accounts of what happened, including that the boy was shot by another person outside the RV while watching fireworks, according to court documents.

However, police later confirmed the boy had shot himself inside the RV his father was living in. The boy was released from the hospital the same day. The gun has not been recovered, authorities said.

According to court records, Shurn is on probation for two prior convictions related to vehicle theft — one in July 2016, the other in February 2017.

He received prison terms for a drug conviction in October 2013, a vehicle theft conviction in June 2013, and drug related convictions in August 2009, June 2008 and July 1998. Shurn also received probation for a December 2007 conviction of felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records.