On Valentine’s Day in Flint, Michigan, Skye McBride, a two-year-old, found a loaded gun in her home and shot herself through the eye.  She was taken to the hospital in critical condition.  According to the report, “the bullet entered the [girl’s] right eye … and exited through the rear of her skull.”

Police found two guns on a bed in the home, one of which had been fired, and a child-sized chair next to it. Officers also found “a bullet hole in the ceiling as well as blood and brain matter in the bedroom.”  Michael Tolbert, Skye’s father, who is owner of the guns, has been charged with multiple counts including violation of Michigan’s new safe storage law.

“Skye is literally the happiest baby [you] probably will ever meet. She loves to talk she loves to dance and play with our family. She’s funny and wise beyond her years,” said Skye’s aunt.

“This is the first case in Michigan where the individual has been charged with violating [the] firearm safe storage law,” the County Prosecutor said. The new law had been in effect for less than a week when the incident occurred. The Prosecutor called it a “more straightforward” criminal charge than child abuse or negligence, presumably because the legal standard is clearly objective under the new law.

Obviously, the law itself does not prevent children from gaining access to guns; awareness of the law and gun owner compliance is required. “I did not ever dream that within days of the law going into effect that we would need it,” a state legislator (who is a mother of six) said. “I am hoping that with these prosecutions and as we raise awareness of safe storage that we will need to use [the law] less and less.” 

Sources:

David Komer, “Michigan Safe Gun Storage Law’s First Time Used Comes in Flint 2-year-old’s Shooting,” Fox 2 Detroit (February 20, 2024).

Courtney Bennett, “Devastating Aftermath of Unsecured Firearm: Toddler Fights for Life, Family Seeks Prayers,” wwmt.com (February 21, 2024).