Three-Year-Old Son of Jackson Co. Sheriff's Office Deputy Accidentally Shoots, Kills Himself

[Purveyor]

LIBERTY TWP, MI — Jackson County Sheriff Steve Rand confirmed the 3-year-old son of a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputy accidentally shot and killed himself at the deputy's home Saturday, March 2.

The residence, a single-story home located on S. Jackson Road was surrounded by five state police cars as of 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police and rescue officials received a 911 call asking for assistance at the residence shortly after 5:30 p.m.

The names of the deputy and his son have not been released, and the Michigan State Police are investigating the incident.

MORE...

http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2013/03/four-year-old_son_of_jackson_c.html#incart_river_default

[HR]
State police conclude 3-year-old son of deputy got to top of bedroom dresser, accessed firearm, accidentally shot himself

LIBERTY TWP, MI – Michigan State Police believe a 3-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself to death this week was able to get a hold of his father’s gun by getting to the top of a bedroom dresser.

“The dresser was believed to be out of reach of the children,” said Michigan State Police 1st Lt. Michael Krumm, commander of the Jackson post.

Krumm said state police completed their investigation on Friday, March 8, and concluded Michael Easter's death was accidental.

“There is nothing at all in this incident that would lead us to have any suspicion of anything else,” Krumm said and called the case “tragic.”

MORE...

http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2013/03/state_police_conclude_3-year-o.html#incart_river

[Lars39]

1. A four foot tall dresser is very do-able for a determined 3 year old.

The stupidity is overwhelming. State police is covering for that family. The gun should have been locked up. No if, ands, or buts.

[Kalidurga]

2. There is no such thing as inaccessible when we are talking about children...

There was no hiding places in any place I lived with my children from the time they were 2 years old until the time I got an apartment that had a separate place to lock things up. They were able to get to the top shelf of a closet by the time they were 4 or 5. Probably before that if they had really wanted to. Before my middle child was 2 she was able to push a chair to the kitchen counter climb up it and pull things out of the cupboards. There was no such thing as hiding Xmas presents in my house. I did hide them anyway, but I knew they would go and look at the wrapped packages. The only way to keep guns away from even small children is a gun safe. I am not sure if that will work with teenagers though.

[madmom]

3. re: things that work with teenagers...

not to make light of the story, but I know for a fact that locked doors won't deter teenagers. We had recently moved and didn't have our big freezer plugged back in yet. I figured it a good place to hide xmas gifts, because I could lock it. Didn't work, 13 year old son took door off the hinges, checked things out, put them back!

I totally agree there is no place safe from a child, short of a gun safe!