Two Young Children Injured in Unintentional Shootings; One Found Gun in Toy Box

In Velda City, Missouri, a 5-year-old child found a loaded gun in his toy box and shot himself in the hand. The 5-year-old is recovering, and none of the other children present were injured. Walter Gary, a 37-year-old corrections officer, admitted to police that he had stored the unsecured gun where the child found it. He was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and put on leave by the sheriff’s department.

A family member unintentionally shot a young child in the leg in Roscoe, Illinois. The child was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Richard Heimer, 34 was charged with endangering the life and health of a child and reckless discharge.

Sources:

Terry Cancila, “Child Shoots Himself with Corrections Officer’s Gun,” kmov.com (October 26, 2023).

John Clark, “Child Shot by Family Member in Accidental Roscoe Shooting, Police Say,” mystateline.com (October 27, 2023).