A two-year-old boy shot his father with an unsecured pistol in the United States. The accident happened right in front of his five-year-old brother at the family home — the older boy became the key witness Monday, Florida State Police said.
According to Sheriff John Mina, officers who called emergency services at the Orlando crime scene initially assumed the 26-year-old father had committed suicide. However, a gunshot wound to the man’s back was found at the hospital, which did not support this claim. The crime scene investigation also confirmed the description of the five-year-old, according to which his little brother activated the gun. In addition to the two boys and a five-month-old baby, the mother of the children was also at home at the time. When the police arrived, she tried to resuscitate her husband.
Weapon was freely accessible
“The gun wasn’t stored properly,” Sheriff Mina said. “She was easily accessible even to a two-year-old, and the result is a tragedy that no one in our community can really fathom.”
The incident happened on May 26, but due to the arduous investigation, the police have only now informed the public. Accordingly, both parents were subject to probationary conditions for child neglect and drug offences. The mother was arrested and now faces charges including culpable homicide, illegal possession of weapons and violating probation.
“Avoidable Tragedy”
“Now these little kids have basically lost both parents,” Mina said. “Her father is dead, her mother is in prison. And a small child has to grow up knowing that he shot his father. These tragedies are 100 percent preventable.”
Repeated firearms homicides in the United States have rekindled the debate over lax gun laws — a topic that has been controversial for years.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
