WASHINGTON — An 11-year-old boy was taken to the hospital in critical condition after he was accidentally shot by his 33-year-old neighbor Tuesday night in Suitland, Prince George’s County police said.

The boy was being watched by his neighbor in a townhouse in the 3000 block of Bellamy Way, officials said. The man was putting away a weapon around 6:40 p.m. when the gun went off, according to police.

The boy was shot in the upper body, and the man “grabbed the child, wrapped him up, ran him outside, put him in his vehicle and raced him over” to a hospital nearby, officials said.

Police said the neighbor was very distraught and cooperating with the investigation.

He is a former military member, according to police.

“We do believe this was a tragic, tragic accident,” said Jennifer Donelan, spokeswoman for the Prince George’s County Police Department.

Police said there is no reason to believe the neighbor had the gun illegally.

The family of the victim said in a statement through a spokesman that they want to remain anonymous.

WTOP’s Keara Dowd contributed to this report.