Aston Simmons, a 28-year old Apollo Beach man, was arrested after a 5-year old found a loaded gun in a bedroom and shot himself. A substantial amount of marijuana was also found at the scene. The child is in critical condition at the hospital. Simmons has been charged with unlawful storage of a firearm among other things.

“There is never a circumstance where a child should have access to a firearm. Now, due to the careless actions of this man, a 5-year-old child is fighting to survive. Please pray for him as he clings to life, and know that the irresponsible person that caused this devastation has been arrested and will be held accountable,” said the Sheriff.

A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania grandmother was unloading her gun in order to put it in her lockbox.  Unknown to her, there was a round in chamber and the gun went off.  The round struck her four-year old grandchild in the chest.  Police are calling the incident an accident, but the report does not indicate whether the gun being unloaded had a magazine safety disconnect and/or a loaded chamber indicator. The child was ultimately airlifted to the hospital where he is in stable condition.

The police commissioner tweeted: “I’m devastated that yet another innocent child was critically injured by gunfire in our city. While our department continues to investigate the circumstances of what initially appears to be a tragic accident, we pray that this boy – and all victims of gun trauma – make full recoveries. These tragedies should never happen, and their impact affects entire communities. As parents, mentors, and community members we all have to do better; for our kids, ourselves, and each other.”

Sources:

BriShon Mitchell, “Apollo Beach Man Arrested After 5-year-old Accidentally Shoots Self,”  wtsp.com (September 3, 2022).

Bob Brooks, Corey Davis, “4-year-old Child Accidentally Shot by Grandmother Inside Philly Home,” ABC Action News (September 2, 2022).