Four-year-old Killed, Teen Injured, in Unintentional Shootings Today

A four-year-old accidentally shot and killed themself in an apartment in Ames, Iowa. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy. “The child was able to access a room where a firearm was at. The parents thought the gun was locked up but it wasn’t,” said a police spokesman. There is an ongoing investigation, but it is likely that someone will face charges.

And in the basement of a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania residence, a 13-year-old boy was critically injured after being accidentally shot by another teen. The shooter was playing with a gun that fired, striking the 13-year-old in the face. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. No other information was reported.

Sources:

Beau Bowman, “Ames Police Investigating After 4-year-old Child Dies in Shooting,” kcci.com (April 2, 2025).

“13-year-old Accidentally Shot in Face While Another Teen Playing with Gun: Police,” 6abc.com (March 31, 2025).