In Gladwin County, Michigan a man was shot in the leg during target practice. The Sheriff’s Office says that the injury appeared to be accidentally inflicted. Deputies also found damage to a home in the area where a bullet went through the outside wall and hit an inside wall. Four other people continue to practice …
Month: May 2020
A Brief Summary for May, 2020
The reports for May are consistent with expectations for a time when families are home together in a society that overvalues the need for guns in the home. Children unexpectedly home from school found guns, and shot themselves, their siblings or others far too often. Reports describe accidents in which at least 14 children died. …
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2020
Police announced that Chance Gilbert, an 8-year old Hamilton, Ohio boy who was killed by an accidental gunshot earlier this month, was shot by his nine-year old friend. Chance and the 9-year old were playing with guns. “The only one in this whole investigation really who has shown courage and told the truth was the …
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020
In Missouri City, Texas, a sheriff’s deputy who was responding to a call from a resident “saying she saw someone running down the street who looked suspicious,” accidentally shot and killed Caleb Rule, a local deputy constable, who was also responding to the call. According to a local authority, “the two agencies share a radio …
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020
In Lincoln, Nebraska, a 57-year old woman was struck by a bullet accidentally fired by her upstairs neighbor. The round passed through the ceiling of her apartment before hitting her in the shoulder. Her injuries are not considered life threatening. The neighbor, a 21-year old man, was arrested and charged with second degree assault. Source: …
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020
In Las Vegas, Nevada, a woman was shot and killed at an apartment complex when she and a man dropped a gun that they were looking at. According to police, the man said “that he and the woman both grabbed for the gun when it fell, and it accidentally went off, striking the woman.” A …
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020
A ten month-old Indianapolis, Indiana boy was hit in the knee by a gunshot that passed through two apartment walls. The shot was fired from outside the building. He is recovering at the hospital. Police do not know who fired the shot. Nor do they know why the shot was fired. Source: “10-month-old Boy Shot …
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2020
Memorial Day was marked by accidental gun violence and the death of two children. In North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, 16-year old Nathaniel Brooks was accidentally shot in his home by his father, Mathew Brooks. The local chief of police determined that the shooting was an accident involving a semi-automatic handgun. Mathew was cleaning the gun. …
SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2020
In Morris, Alabama, a five-year old boy found a gun in his home and shot himself in the face. He later died of his wound. “It’s just a tragic accident it appears,” the Morris police chief said. The police will present findings to the District Attorney’s office on Monday. In Portland, North Dakota, a newspaper …
SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2020
17-year old Ishmael Muhammad of Des Moines, Iowa was struck by a bullet in a local residence today when someone accidentally fired an illegal handgun. He later died of the wound. According to police, residents initially said that Muhammad had arrived at the home having already been shot. After an investigation, police charged a 16-year …
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Treyvon Maynor, a 16-year old, was arrested after he accidentally shot his 9-year old nephew with a stolen gun. The boy was hit in the arm and taken to a local hospital. According to witnesses, Maynor was handling the firearm when it accidentally fired. After the incident, Maynor fled the scene …
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020
In Allen County, Indiana a man shooting at a varmint accidentally struck his neighbor. Although both parties agree that the shooting was an accident, the neighbor is in serious condition at a local hospital. Source: Kayla Crandall, “County Police: Man Accidentally Shoots Neighbor,” WPTA21.com (May 21, 2020).
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020
In Peoria, Illinois, an eight-year old boy died in an accident that, according to police, involved “children handling a gun.” Jordin Wilson was taken to the hospital after being struck with a bullet in the chest. He died while being treated. Police are continuing to investigate. Source: Andy Kravetz, “8-year-old Boy Identified in Accidental Shooting,” …
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020
Another innocent bystander was struck by gunfire today. In North Charleston, South Carolina, a woman trying to hide from gunshots was accidentally struck by a man who appeared to be firing for no reason outside a club. The suspect was apparently shooting in the air without intending to hit anyone. Source: Tony Fortier-Bensen, “Female Injured …
MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020
Police accidents are sometimes reported with a remarkable lack of agency. Here is the entire substance of the report: “An officer is hospitalized after he shot himself in the leg while he was off-duty in west Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. Authorities say his gun went off, and the officer was shot in …
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2020
For at least the sixth time this month and the third time this week, a toddler died in a gun accident. This time a three-year old in Flint, Michigan found a gun in his home and shot and killed himself. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said, “[t]his is a tragedy and a loss no one should …
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020
In White, Georgia, a five-year old girl shot and killed herself while playing with a gun she found at a campsite. Her grandmother, Kimberly Anne Roberts, and an unrelated man were arrested and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. Both adults are being held at Bartow County Jail. Source: Asia Simone Burns, “Grandmother, …
FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020
In Jacksonville, Florida today, police say that a man died from a gun accident that occurred when he mishandled a firearm. They do not believe foul play was involved, although there is an ongoing investigation. No other details were reported. Source: “Jacksonville Man Dies after Reportedly Mishandling Firearm,” First Coast ABC News (May 15, 2020).
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020
A three-year old in St. Louis was shot and killed with a gun. Although the police did not confirm that he shot himself, they did call the shooting an accident. “This is a heartbreaking and horrific tragedy,” St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a statement. “It’s also a serious reminder of the responsibility that …
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020
A Columbus, Ohio man was transported by MedFlight helicopter today after being accidentally shot while standing in the parking lot of a Logan County shooting range. According to the report, “the incident occurred when, ‘an out-of-town member was placing a gun back into the gun case, and it discharged, hitting another out-of-town member in the upper right leg.’” …
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2020
Arya Gray, a 15-year old Miami, Florida girl, was accidentally shot and killed by a 17-year old boy who was brandishing a stolen gun. According to an arrest report, 17-year old Thalys Olivera “recklessly brandished” a gun inside the apartment that Arya was visiting, and witnesses told the 17-year-old to put it away. Olivera did …
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020
Griffin, Georgia police announced today that a 5-year old boy and his brothers found a loaded gun in the woods near their home. The boy, believing the gun was a toy, discharged it and shot his 12-year old brother in the chest. The 12-year old died at the hospital. Evidence suggests that the gun was …
SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2020
There were two more gun cleaning accidents today. In Barberton, Ohio, a woman was shot through both legs when her boyfriend’s gun accidentally discharged while he was cleaning it. The woman had been watching T.V. Her boyfriend was charged with negligent assault. In Rockford, Illinois, a man shot his roommate through an apartment wall when …
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020
Five-year old Ja’Cari Ellis found a gun and shot himself in St. Petersburg Florida today. He was rushed to the hospital where he later died. “Our preliminary investigation has so far revealed that this was a tragic accident, that Ja’Cari got a hold of a gun and accidentally shot himself,” a St. Petersburg Police spokesperson …
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020
A two-year old Florida child was shot by a man who was cleaning his gun, according to Escambia County sheriff’s deputies. The child was hospitalized. No further information was reported. Source: “Deputies: 2-year-old Accidentally Shot while Gun Owner was Cleaning Firearm,” WEAR TV (May 8, 2020).
Adult Injury Alabama Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Delaware Ongoing Investigation South Carolina
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020
Few details were reported about three incidents in which people were shot and injured in gun accidents today. In Auburn, Alabama a young person was flown to the hospital and is in stable condition after being accidentally shot at an apartment complex. The child’s age and the circumstances of the accident were not reported. In …
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020
In Putnam County, Florida, a Sheriff’s deputy accidentally shot himself in the leg while attempting to fend off an attacking dog. He was hospitalized, but is expected to recover. According to a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s office, “the dog ran after the deputy, and before he could back out of the yard, the dog charged …
Adult Arrested Arizona Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Ongoing Investigation Texas
TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020
Two toddlers died in gun accidents today. One found a gun and shot himself, the other was shot by a young sibling. Three-year old Bryson Skinner died after finding in a handgun in his home and shooting himself by accident. A related 22-year adult and his girlfriend were arrested and charged with felony child abuse. …
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
In Campbell County, Virginia, the driver of a car accidentally fired a handgun. The round passed through the door of his car and through the passenger door of a nearby vehicle hitting a woman in the back. She is hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Officials say they determined that the shooting was accidental, but charged …
SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020
Two-year old, Chevy Carroll, an Elizabethtown, Kentucky boy, was shot and killed today. The child was home with both parents and two young siblings at the time he was shot. Few other circumstances of the shooting are available at this time. “So this is going to be a challenging investigation, but one that we want …
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2020
For the second day in a row, a child was shot in a gun accident in Central Alabama. Today, a Fairfield four-year old was shot in the back of a car by a younger sibling. The accident occurred in the parking lot of a local mall. The child remains in critical condition. Police are investigating. …
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020
Another young boy, this time in Pinson, Alabama, was accidentally shot this week while turkey hunting with his father. He died at the scene. The shooting remains under investigation. The report does not specify whether he was wearing blaze orange at the time of the accident. Source: Joshua Huff, “11-year-old Killed in Apparent Accidental Shooting …