During a family gathering in Ferguson, Missouri, a 2-year-old accidentally shot himself with a sheriff’s deputy’s gun. The child wandered into a room where the incident occurred. The uncle, who is a St. Louis sheriff’s deputy, was apprehended on suspicion of endangering a child but was later released, per PEOPLE.
The Ferguson police spokesperson, Pat Washington, stated that they intend to file charges on Thursday. PEOPLE has contacted the Ferguson Police Department for a statement.
Luckily, the minor is recovering from the shooting, which the police department disclosed in a Facebook post.
The department wrote,
“GREAT NEWS….. We are happy to learn that the 2-year-old toddler injured in an accidental shooting recently is recovering well and may be home with family soon.”
“Thank you to Detective Numan and the officers on this case which serves as a tragic example of what can happen when guns are not properly secured in your household,”
the department added.
The 2-year-old was accidentally shot in the abdomen, according to The Kansas City Star. The gun involved belonged to the child’s uncle, who is a St. Louis sheriff’s deputy. However, it is unclear if the gun was
“issued by the sheriff’s department,”
reports added.
The department wrote in the Facebook post,
“In the wake of the distressing incident where a two-year-old child accidentally shot himself with an unsecured firearm, our community is reminded of the urgent necessity for stringent gun safety.”
“Thankfully, the child survived, but the emotional scars of this event will linger. I implore every gun owner to confront the reality of this preventable tragedy and take immediate action to secure their firearms,”
the Ferguson Police Department’s statement added.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
