Gastonia, North Carolina police are investigating the death of Markovia Durham, a 29-year old man who was shot and killed by his two-year old son.  “It’s a horrible tragedy. It’s a horrible situation for everyone involved,” said the Gaston County District Attorney.

The child thought the Glock pistol was a toy according to family members. Although police continue to investigate, initial reports suggest that the gun was not secured when the child found it. 

There is a longstanding question about why Glock guns are so easy for young children to pick up and fire.  They lack an effective external manual safety and have low trigger pull that makes them easy for toddlers to shoot. In another similar incident, a three-year old boy shot his father, a Los Angeles police officer, from the back seat of a car with a found gun, leaving him paralyzed.

Sources:

Kevin Ellis, “’It’s a Horrible Tragedy’: 2-year-old Suspected of Fatally Shooting Father in Gastonia,” Gaston Gazette (August 9, 2021).

“Misfire: The Gun Industry’s Long History of Producing Defective Guns,” Violence Policy Center (2021).

Bob Owens, “Glock Settles Negligent Discharge Case With Paralyzed Ex-LAPD Cop,” Bearing Arms (May 12, 2016),