James Martin, a 15-year-old, died in Indianapolis, Indiana in an unintentional shooting that occurred at his home. Police have arrested and released a person of interest, who also appears to be a juvenile, after determining that the shooting was likely to have been unintentional. 

According to the report, “[p]olice said the shooting appears to be unintentional, but can still serve as a safety lesson for everyone.” The local prosecutor said, “[i]t’s never been easier for kids to have access to firearms.”  A police officer added, ““Gun safety is very important, but the bigger picture is this is a tragic situation. A kid lost his life and the family is dealing with a lot,”

“Safety is not something that happens by accident. It’s something you have to work on 24 hours a day,” said a local firearms instructor.  “To be safe with a firearm you have to follow three simple guidelines. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Always keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot and always keep the gun unloaded until you’re ready to use it,” he said.  No report that he mentioned the importance of safe storage to keep guns out of the hands of children.

Source:

Jesse Wells, “15-year-old Dies Following Accidental Shooting on Indy’s East Side,” Fox 59 (January 3, 2023).