WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020

Two more young children are unintended victims of shootings that occurred today. One incident occurred in North Carolina, the other in Michigan. Two Mississippi children were unintended victims yesterday.

A 22-month old Winston-Salem, North Carolina boy was shot in the stomach inside a minivan. Damien Lopez Rumbo was taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition. Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

In Detroit, Michigan, a seven-year old was a victim of a drive-by shooting. Someone in a blue Dodge Charge shot into her home. She also remains in critical condition as police investigate.

Sources:

Carrie Hodgin, “22-month-old Boy Shot while in Minivan in Winston-Salem,” WFMY2 News (October 28, 2020)

Cara Ball, “7-year-old in Critical Condition After Drive-by Shooting on Detroit’s East Side,” WXYZ.com (October 29, 2020).

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From the Archives

THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2023

11-year-old Finds a Gun in a Closet in His Home

Tracy Smith, age 34, of St. Louis, Missouri was charged with reckless child endangerment after the 11-year-old son of his girlfriend found his loaded gun and used it to shoot and kill himself. The boy, David Winston, took the gun from a purse belonging to his mother that was hidden on a shelf in a closet that he had access to. Police found Winston unconscious and not breathing with a Taurus .38 caliber revolver lying next to him.

According to a probable cause statement filed in court, both Smith and the boy's mother told police that Winston “was autistic and was known to get into things and take items when left unsupervised. He was also known to watch TV by himself in the room where the gun was kept. Smith admitted that he didn't have a gun safe, gun lock or holster, exposing the trigger to anyone who gained access to it.”

"The Tracy [Smith] I know is a good guy. He loved his girlfriend's four children like those were his kids. He has two sons of his own who are 7 and 8 years old,” a coworker said. "We were all together a couple of days ago talking, laughing and having a good time. Now, I'm going through the motions of losing my brother and his stepson. That's real heartbreaking," said Smith’s brother.

Winston is reportedly the 27th child shot in St. Louis already this year. Eight of those children have died.

Sources:

Kelsi Anderson, Travis Cummings, “Man Charged With Child Endangerment, Gun Theft After Boy Fatally Shoots Himself in St. Louis,” ksdk.com (June 2, 2023).

Robert Townsend, “5 On Your Side Uncovers New Details in Self-inflicted Shooting of 11-year-old Boy,” ksdk.com (June 2, 2023).

Shattered – The Gun Accident Journal

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