A two-year old in Bakersfield, California accidentally shot a relative with a loaded gun he found inside his apartment. The unidentified woman is in critical condition at the hospital. 

“At this point, we are going through all the various interviews and still doing some follow-up investigations as far as where the gun was located, how it got there, who the gun belonged to,” explained the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

A Sheriff’s Office spokesman went on to offer advice that couldn’t possibly be meant to apply to a two year old:  “A lot of parents think ‘oh well if I just hide it, if I keep it away from my kids that will be better,’ but it is really best to talk to your kids about it,” explained Elvie Martinez, a crime prevention specialist with the KCSO. “Give them rules about your gun, never touch it, don’t get it out, maybe even explaining why you have the gun.”

Sources:

Bayan Wang, “Woman in Critical Condition after Being Accidentally Shot by a 2-year-old in Northwest Bakersfield,” 23ABC News (September 27, 2020).

Anthony Wright, “Kern County Sheriff’s Office Offers Gun Safety Tips after Two-year-old Shoots Relative,” 23ABC News (September 28, 2020).