In Lake County, Indiana, an 8-year old accidentally shot himself to death today.  The child was the second in the region to lose his life to an unintended gunshot wound in the last two months, illustrating the urgency in Indiana to enact more effective safe storage and child access prevention laws.

According to the report, the child was home alone when he gained access to a gun and shot himself. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family,” the local sheriff investigating the incident said.

Also today, in Chester, Pennsylvania, William Evans, an 18-year old was accidentally shot in face and killed today.  According to the shooter, Shaakir Alim Germany, the gun went off when he was removing it from a backpack.  He called police himself at the time of the incident.  Germany is facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Sources:

Joseph Hosey, “Accidental Self-inflicted Gunshot Wound Kills Lakes of the Four Seasons 8-year-old: Cops,” nwi.com (August 18, 2022).

Alex Rose, “Chester Township Teen Killed in Apparent Accidental Shooting,”  Daily Times (August 18, 2022).