PALATKA, Fla. -- A 10-year-old was shot in the back of the head on Sunday morning by a 14-year-old friend remains in critical condition, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said they got the call of the shooting at a home on county Road 207A in East Palatka just after noon. The boys were apparently playing with a pistol when it went off.

"A young kid flagged me down. He said his friend was playing with a gun and he was shot," a motorist said in the first call to 911.

When the motorist's wife came back to the phone after checking on the boy she got on the telephone.

"He's been shot in the head," the woman told the 911 operator. "He's got a pulse right now, but he's slipping -- He's barely breathing. They've got to hurry."

The boy was initially transported to Putnam Community Medical Center, then airlifted to Shands-Gainesville Medical Center.

The boy, whose name was not released, underwent several hours of surgery and was still in critical condition Monday morning.

Putnam County deputies said the gun was a Taurus 9 mm pistol owned by the boy's parents, who were not home at the time of the shooting.

Investigators said the 14-year-old had spent the night at the family home and the two boys were the only ones home at the time of the shooting.

Based on the initial information, authorities considered the shooting an accident but were still investigating.

Sheriff Dean Kelly said it would be up to the State Attorney's Office to determine if any charges would be filed based on state statutes regarding keeping firearms secure from children.

"I can't even imagine what that family's going through," said neighbor Denise Kemp. "They're in our thoughts and prayers."