Woman is Dead and Boy is Injured in Two Unintentional Shootings in Florida

Today’s incident is the fifth accidental shooting in Tallahassee, Florida since the beginning of September. An adult woman was with a group of people smoking cannabis in a vehicle, when one of them, Ja’Darius Brown, 17, unintentionally discharged a firearm, striking the woman. Brown disposed of the gun before taking the woman to the hospital where she later died. He has been charged with manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence. Police say the case is active and open.

And in another unintentional shooting in Florida, this time in Jacksonville, an 8-year-old boy was shot by a loaded gun that was set on fire in a burn barrel. The boy and other children were with their grandmother clearing debris from a yard and placing it in a burn barrel. When the debris was set on fire, a bullet fired from a gun that was in the barrel, striking the boy in the leg. Police later found 2 firearms that were “burned and partially melted” in the barrel. The investigation is ongoing and no charges have yet been filed.

Sources:

Elena Barrera, “TPD Makes Arrest After Woman ‘Inadvertently’ Shot and Killed at Springfield Apartments,” tallahassee.com (September 12, 2023).

Irene Wright, “8-year-old Shot After Loaded Gun Put in Burn Barrel and Set on Fire, Florida Cops Say,” mercedsunstar.com (September 12, 2023).