A Two-year-old is Killed and Two Others are Hurt in Unintended Shootings

In St. Petersburg, Florida, 22-year-old Aaron Creary accidentally shot and killed his son. Armani, one of his twin 2-year-olds. Creary was trying to break up an argument between his parents when the gun went off, striking the child. He has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and violation of probation. The twins’ mother said, “[i]t was an accident. He would never put his kids in harm’s way… [e]specially not his son!”  Armani is the second Florida two-year-old unintentionally killed by gun violence in just two days.

In separate shootings hours apart, two 2-year-olds from Chicago, Illinois were injured. A 2-year-old girl found a loaded gun in her mother’s purse. It accidentally discharged striking her in the right hand. She was taken to the hospital and is in good condition. A 22-year-old woman was charged with two counts; endangering a child and having a gun without a valid Identification card.

Later, in another part of the city, a 2-year-old boy was playing in a bedroom with Benjamin Smith, 24, when a gun went off. He was also struck in the hand and was taken to the hospital in fair condition. It is unclear who fired the gun, but Smith has been charged with child endangerment.

“Two 2-year-olds,” a local gun violence prevention advocate lamented on Sunday night. “Get a lock. Lock these guns down.”

Sources:

Angela Salcedo, “Mother of St. Pete Boy, 2, Killed in Shooting Says it was Accidental,” wtsp.com (May 30, 2023).

“Two Shootings Involving 2-year-olds in Chicago Hours Apart,” cbsnews.com (May 30, 2023).

Patrick Hauf, “Two 2-year-olds Shot Within Hours in Crime-Ridden Chicago,” foxnews.com (May 30, 2023).