Reports of Unintended Gun Violence Collected from Media Reports Across the United States
State Police Officer Injured When Gun in Purse Fires In a Kalamazoo, Michigan Costco, the gun in the purse of an off-duty, state police officer, unintentionally fired striking her in the hand. Another person hurt their ankle during the incident, and a third person fainted, but it is unclear if either of them had been …
Group of Friends Playing with Gun; 16-year-old is Killed In an Indianapolis, Indiana home, 16-year-old Nathaniel Labissiere was unintentionally shot and killed by his friend, 18-year-old Jakari Bibbs. The two teens and another friend were playing around with a .22 caliber Glock 44 while another person took photos. During the investigation, Bibbs told detectives he …
One Dead, Six Wounded in Unintentional Shootings In Saginaw, Michigan, 15-year-old Dominque Williams was accidentally shot and killed by his 16-year-old stepbrother with a pistol they were playing with. No adults were at home, but another juvenile was with the two stepbrothers when the incident occurred. The stepbrother has been charged as a juvenile with …
13-year-old Girl Killed When Gun In Mother’s Purse Unintentionally Discharges Dearria Radley, a 13-year-old middle schooler in Nashville, Tennessee, was accidentally shot and killed by a loaded gun that was in her mother’s purse. Her mother was searching for keys in the purse when the .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol unintentionally fired. Dearria died at the …
Four People Injured in Unintentional Shootings A male driver accidentally shot himself in the knee as he fled police during a traffic stop in Birmingham, Alabama. When police tried to stop the man, he got out of the car and fled. While running he shot himself, and was quickly captured and taken to the hospital. …
Toddler Finds Mother’s Gun, Shoots and Kills Younger Brother A 3-year-old boy found his mother’s loaded gun in her purse, and shot and killed his 2-year-old brother in Gary, Indiana. The case is under investigation. The mayor and police chief released a joint statement. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the loved ones of …
Two Hunters are Killed, and Two Boys are Wounded in Gun Accidents Seth Egelhoff, 26, was shot and killed while hunting waterfowl in Panora, Iowa. A member of Egelhoff’s hunting party accidentally shot him in the face. He died on the way to the hospital and authorities are investigating. Another hunting accident resulting in a …
One Dead, Four Wounded in Accidental Shootings A 5-year-old boy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, shot himself in the hand while playing with a gun. Police said one parent was home during the incident, but did not say who owned the gun. There is an ongoing investigation, and so far no charges have been filed. Ari T. …
One Dead, and Two Wounded in Unintentional Shootings Inside an apartment in Gary, Indiana, a 4-year-old boy was wounded when he shot himself with an unsecured gun. According to his father, the child found the loaded gun in a purse in a closet while his parents were in other rooms. No other information has been …
Four-year-old Shoots Grandmother with Gun Found in Purse A 55-year-old woman in Mobile, Alabama, was unintentionally shot in the leg by her 4-year-old granddaughter with a gun that the child found in her grandmother’s purse. Police were called to the store where the incident occurred, and management instructed shoppers to evacuate. The woman was treated …
19-year-old Daughter Accidentally Shoots Mother, and Three Others Also Hurt in Unintentional Shootings In Laredo, Texas, 19-year-old Crystal Mar is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after she unintentionally shot her mother in the head. Mar was trying to unload a gun she had in her purse by removing the magazine, when the …
A 2-year-old Boy is One of Two Victims Who Unintentionally Shot Themselves Today A 2-year-old boy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, found an unsecured 9mm gun in his mother’s purse and shot himself in the leg. The boy was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover. Police continue to investigate. The shooting of a …
11-year-old Finds a Gun in a Closet in His Home Tracy Smith, age 34, of St. Louis, Missouri was charged with reckless child endangerment after the 11-year-old son of his girlfriend found his loaded gun and used it to shoot and kill himself. The boy, David Winston, took the gun from a purse belonging to …
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 …
Gun Accident When Removing Sunglasses From Purse An Athens, Georgia woman accidentally shot herself in the stomach in the parking lot of a local supermarket when she was reaching for her sunglasses in her purse. The gun that was also in the purse fired unintentionally. She is likely to survive. Source: Joe Johnson, “Woman Shoots …
Two men were injured while attending a wine-tasting event at a restaurant in Miami, Florida. One of the men, a homeland security officer, dropped a gun during the event. The gun fired when it hit the floor and the round passed both through the officer’s leg and the leg of a friend. Neither man suffered …
In Rosebud, Missouri, a 10-month old baby was shot in the stomach by a three-year old child. The toddler had taken the gun from a purse on the counter in their home. According to the report, there is an ongoing investigation. Source: Zachary Farwell, “Investigators Determine Shooting of Baby in Gasconade County as Accidental,” ABC 17 …
We recently posted on the likely impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in New York Rifle and Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen on gun safety. In Bruen, the Supreme Court ruled that all “law-abiding” Americans have a Second Amendment right to carry a gun outside the home for self-defense. Several states quickly responded by considering or …
A Wichita, Kansas two-year old had access to a loaded gun in his home and used it to shoot himself in the leg. Police were called to the hospital rather than to the scene and are currently investigating. And a Zachary, Louisiana, a two-year old pulled a gun out of his mother’s purse and shot …
In Charlotte, North Carolina, a one-year old girl was shot and killed by her 7-year old brother, who also injured himself. According to a neighbor, a friend had come to visit and had left the loaded gun used in the incident in her purse. “He’s seven. He might have thought it was a play gun,” …
The Supreme Court ruled today, in New York Rifle and Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, that all “law-abiding” Americans have a right to carry a gun outside the home for self-defense. This will have very serious implications and, as its most near-term consequence, will likely eliminate existing gun license procedures in at least five states. Perhaps …
A three-year old Nashville, Tennessee child took his mother’s loaded gun from her purse while she was sleeping and shot himself in the abdomen. The child was airlifted to the hospital for emergency surgery. No charges have been filed. Source: Lucas Wright, “3-year-old Shoots Self with Mother’s Gun, Metro Police Say,” wkrn.com (March 8, 2022).
An Anderson County, South Carolina 9-year old was shot today when his mother’s gun fell out of her purse, struck the floor and discharged. His injuries are not considered life-threatening. The sheriff’s office is investigating. Source: Anne Newman, “Child Shot at Anderson County Home, Deputies Say,” wyff4.com (February 10, 2022).
A Detroit, Michigan mother accidentally shot her 4-year old daughter while cleaning her gun. The child is at the hospital with critical injuries. Her mother has been taken into custody. The woman involved in the gun accident initially told police that she and the girl had been attacked by an intruder who was attempting to …
A three-year old and a four year old were injured today by their gun-owning parents’ negligence. This is at least the fourth day in a row that young children were injured in gun accidents. You can track the links to the other stories here. In Houston, Texas, a three year-old was shot in the upper …
A 22-year old was killed and three children were seriously injured in gun accidents today. In Dunmore, Pennsylvania, 22-year old Tyler Sitar was accidentally shot in the stomach by his friend Luigi Lorusso, who was handling a gun. Sitar died of his wound and Lorusso was arrested and charged with manslaughter. Another Columbus, Ohio child, …
Gabriel Alexis Henderson, a 25-year old mother of five young children in Cornelius, North Carolina, was shot and killed when one of her children found a loaded handgun in her purse. Four of her children were in the room with her at the time of the accident. One of those children was also struck, but …
In Anderson County, South Carolina, a woman who was legally carrying a firearm shot herself in the hip as she was entering the Dollar General store. According to the Sheriff’s office, the gun accidentally discharged while inside her purse. The woman was the only one injured in the accident. She was flown to the hospital …