Florida 3-year-old finds gun in sofa, accidentally shoots 2-year-old sister

[left-of-center2012]

A 3-year-old boy accidentally shot his 2-year-old sister after finding a gun that had been hidden between sofa cushions by a family friend, Florida authorities said Saturday. The girl was in “exceptionally" critical condition, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd at a news conference.

After the girl was shot, three men in the home at the time scooped up the children and jumped in a car to drive to a hospital.
On their way, they got into a crash with another vehicle, causing several injuries. The girl and one of the adults was taken to the hospital by a good Samaritan who had stopped to offer assistance after the crash, Judd said.

The gun was brought into the Lakeland, Florida, home by one of three men who had gathered Friday night to watch TV, authorities said. Kevonte' Wilson, 23, told investigators he had placed the gun between sofa cushions so that it would be hidden from the children. He was arrested on charges of failing to safely store a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of marijuana. He could face other counts, Judd said.

The home's owner, Chad Berrien, 24, was charged with possession of marijuana and maintaining a house for drug use, the sheriff said.

Judd said “There was no reason to think that this was an intentional act," Judd said. “He was a baby playing with what he saw as some kind of toy."

https://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/2021/05/22/toddler-finds-gun-in-sofa-accidentally-shoots-younger-sister/

[Rhiannon12866]

1. How many times does this kind of thing need to happen?!

[Nexus2]

2. Oh my God

[Crunchy Frog]

3. No child shot anyone. An adult shot a toddler through negligent discharge.

There needs needs to be a complete reframing around these sorts of incidents.

Throw the book at the gun owner/SHOOTER.

[SoCalDavidS]

4. The Gun Owner Will Have Charges Dropped, And Get His Gun Back

AMERICA!!

[Permanut]

5. There's only one thing to do..

Repeal the regulations relating to storing of guns, and to concealed weapons. Well, two things; there's the thoughts and prayers thing too.

Okay, snark aside, seriously, this is a tragedy beyond description.

[keithbvadu2]

6. To the gun industry, dead children are merely collateral damage/acceptable losses for gun industry p

To the gun industry, dead children are merely collateral damage/acceptable losses for gun industry profits and political donations.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/27/joe-the-plumber-guns_n_5397981.html

Joe The Plumber: ‘Your Dead Kids Don’t Trump My Constitutional Rights’ To Have Guns

Ironic how he chose that verb back in 2014.

[phylny]

7. I'm a retired speech-language pathologist and I used to provide Early Intervention services in homes

Once I walked in and saw a gun on a side table. The child I was seeing had just begun pulling up to stand and cruising furniture. I said to the father, "You might want to think about putting your gun away so your daughter doesn't get her hands on it."

Duh.

This family was dirt poor, but damn, he had his gun!

[Treefrog]

8. Fucking idiots. Didn't even notice that the kids had hold of the gun?

And apparently can't even drive.

[lindysalsagal]

9. Sorry, Florida.

But you get the majority of these....

[Treefrog]

10. No, I don't think they do.

Research.

[Blecht]

11. Maybe legalize the weed and get rid of the guns?

Just a thought.