4-Year-Old Injured in Self-Inflicted Shooting
Young children can get injured in a number of ways. Many are injured in falls or car accidents. While firearm accidents are not too common, they can still occur and cause life-threatening injuries.
Sadly, a 4-year-old girl is in critical condition after being injured by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident happened on the evening of January 11.
Dyersburg Police officers responded to a shooting of a child at a residence in the 300 block of Hawthorne Avenue in Dyersburg. They arrived at the scene and saw no one was inside the home. However, as they were entering the house, they saw blood.
Police then stated that a man returned and told them that when he was asleep, his girlfriend woke him up and asked about their daughter. The man got up and noticed the child was on the couch. He tried several times to wake up his daughter. The man called for an ambulance and police but decided to take her to the hospital himself.
The man told police he left a handgun in the living room before going to bed and forgot to secure it. He said he and the girl’s mother found the child on the couch. They tried several times to call an ambulance. Finally, the child’s mother picked up the child and put her in a car, while the man drove them to the hospital.
The father of the 4-year-old said the gun was lying under a pillow in the same spot he puts it every day.
The family claims the parents did all they could and got the child medical treatment as quickly as possible. They are asking for privacy as they deal with this traumatic event and focus on the baby.
The child is still in critical condition. It is unknown if the father will face criminal charges. The incident is still under investigation.
Gun Safety Around Children
Children are naturally curious. Even when they are told not to touch firearms, many still do when adults are not present. Studies show that safe storage practices reduce the risk of accidental shootings, injuries, and deaths by up to 85%.
Common risks include:
- Accidental discharge while handling a loaded gun.
- Mistaking a real firearm for a toy.
- Finding unsecured firearms in drawers, closets, or vehicles.
- Peer pressure to show or handle guns.
Adults should:
- Store guns unloaded. Always keep firearms unloaded when not in use. A loaded gun greatly increases the risk of accidental injury.
- Lock firearms securely. Use gun safes, lock boxes, trigger locks, and cable locks. Firearms should be completely inaccessible to children.
- Lock ammunition separately. Ammunition should be stored in a locked container, separate from firearms.
- Keep keys and codes hidden. Never share safe combinations or hide keys where children might find them.
Contact Us Today
Firearms are dangerous. Parents should always keep guns locked up securely when children are around.
A firearm discharge can cause serious injuries and death. A Mt. Juliet child injury lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC can assist you if someone caused injury to your child. Fill out the online form or call (615) 622-6060 to schedule a consultation today.
Source:
wreg.com/news/mid-south/toddler-critically-injured-after-accidental-shooting-in-tn/
