Two Toddlers Shoot Themselves with Loaded Guns Found at Home

Grace Rodriguez, age 2, of Portage, Indiana, found a loaded gun in her home and used it to accidentally shoot and kill herself. She was flown to a trauma center in Chicago, but died at the hospital.

“The initial investigation shows that the child was able to gain access to a family-owned firearm,” police said. “The child was able to discharge a single round, striking herself. There were no other children in the home and no other injuries were reported.”

Also today, a South Fulton, Georgia four-year-old found a loaded gun at home and is critically injured after shooting himself. Additional details have not been reported.

The reports contain no discussion concerning why regulators don’t prevent gun manufacturers from designing guns that even a toddler can fire. Nor do the articles contain any discussion about Indiana or Georgia’s weak safe storage laws.

Source:

Bob Kasarda, “2-year-old Portage Girl Dead After Shooting Herself With Gun at Home, Police Say,”  nwitimes.com (February 9, 2023).

Jessica Moore, “4-year-old Boy Critical After Finding Gun, Shooting Self, Police Say,” 11 Alive (February 8, 2023).