Deadly Mistakes: The Alarming Rise of Child Gun Accidents in the US
Tragic Incidents of Children Accidentally Losing Lives Due to Unattended Guns in the US
Recent Incidents of Children Accidentally Shooting Themselves or Others
There have been a number of tragic incidents in the United States where children have accidentally lost their lives after being left unattended with guns.
According to the Associated Press, an 8-year-old boy accidentally shot himself with a loaded gun while he was left alone in a parked car in front of a convenience store in Lehi, Utah. The boy was taken to the hospital but eventually died.
The boy’s mother was reportedly at a convenience store at the time of the accident, leaving her son in the car. The gun was found to be under the seat of the vehicle. It has not been confirmed whether the safety device was installed.
Police are currently investigating the incident and said the shooting of the boy appeared to be an accidental act. They added that no charges have been filed against the boy’s mother.
Utah has no specific laws governing the handling, supervision or access of firearms by minors without parental supervision, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Just two weeks ago in Utah, a 5-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself with a handgun at his home, the AP reported.
On the same day, in St. Louis, Missouri, a 4-year-old girl was shot and killed by children left unattended in a home.
At the time of the accident, only four children were left in the house, including a 10-year-old, a 9-year-old, and 4-year-old twins.
Police said one of the twins was found unconscious after being shot by one of his siblings, and was later taken to a hospital where he died. It has not been revealed who shot him.
The child’s mother was in a nearby store at the time of the incident and the gun was in a location “easily accessible to a child,” police said.
Recently, in southern Louisiana, an 11-year-old boy shot and killed his relative, an 82-year-old former mayor, and his daughter with a gun he had in his home.
According to ABC News, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on the 1st, police in Minden, Louisiana, received a report that two bodies had been found shot to death in a home.
The deceased were identified as Cornelius Sr. (82), a former city council member and mayor of Minden, and his daughter Keisha Miles (31).
Police have detained an 11-year-old perpetrator, a relative of the deceased, and charged him with first-degree murder. The motive for the crime is unknown.