Two more children died this week in gun accidents that might have been prevented by safe storage laws. Also today, a popular former North Carolina law enforcement officer died while working in Hawaii when a rifle accidentally fired inside a police station.

In Memphis, Tennessee, a 14-year old girl died when a boy was handing her a gun.  Although the boy’s mother was aware that her son had bought a gun and repeatedly took it away from him, she did not remove it from the home or lock it up.  The boy  had recovered the gun from where his mother had hidden it when the accident occurred. The boy’s mother has been charged with reckless homicide, apparently for failing to prevent the accident.

In Atlanta, Georgia, a 3-year old boy found a gun in his home and shot himself.  There is an ongoing investigation.  The girl’s mother and her boyfriend are cooperating.

Special Agent John Bost III, was killed by a rifle shot in Ki’hei, Hawaii while working inside a police station.  Investigators have not said what caused the rifle to go off, other than that the incident was an accident.  Bost had formerly been a law enforcement officer in Charlotte, North Carolina where he remained popular.  A large parade was held in his honor in his hometown of Huntersville.

Sources:

Eryn Taylor, Melissa Moon, “Mother Charged after Juvenile Girl Shot, Killed in Southwest Memphis,” News 3 WREG (July 29, 2020).

Asia Simone Burns, “3-year-old Boy Dies after Shooting Himself in SW Atlanta,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (July 28, 2020).

“Huntersville Community Honors Former CMPD Officer Killed in Hawaii,” wsotv.com (August 6, 2020).