Sadly, a young toddler is in critical and unstable condition at a St. Louis hospital following a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Furthermore, the 3-year-old boy found a loaded semi-automatic handgun inside his parent’s house near Fountain Park.
The childaccident happened early in the morning on Tuesday, a when the boy found the gun hidden in a back bedroom. There were two family members home at the time of the shooting, but were not inside the room when the child shot himself. The police questioned both relatives, and a 24-year-old man was arrested. His identity will not be released until he is charged with a crime.
The biggest concern with such a tragic and preventable accident such as this is that the gun was placed so low the child could grab it. All in all, five guns were found inside the home, and police are reminding parents that guns should be kept in spots where children cannot reach them. The child’s mother was not home at the time of the accident, and was visibly shaken when she arrived at her home upon hearing the news. Currently, the St. Louis Police Department’s child abuse unit is handling the case.
If your child was injured by a preventable accident at the hands of another’s negligence, we can help. Please contact the skilled St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth today for a free consultation.