Because there are 390 million guns already present in the United States, it is clear that the only practical way forward is a relentless focus on preventing gun violence before it happens. Evidence-based suicide prevention programs and well-funded community-based gun violence intervention projects are two prongs of the necessary three-pronged approach. The third is reevaluation …
Read the Journal
GUNS, “SAFE SPACES” LEGISLATION, AND CARS
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 …
The Bruen Decision: A Preliminary View of What it Means for Gun Safety
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 YEAR OF DAILY REPORTS ABOUT UNINTENDED GUN VIOLENCE
Lessons Learned: [note: hyperlinked material shows in dark blue] November 15, 2020 marked the one-year anniversary of Shattered: The Gun Accident Journal. There are now more than 366 daily reports in the archive, categorized by state and tagged for common safety issues. There are also five chronological narratives that illustrate the steady accumulation of family …
CHILDREN AND GUNS
Criminalizing the Negligence of Caregivers May Let Manufacturers Off the Hook It is quite clear from any rational child safety perspective that manufacturers should be discouraged or prevented from designing guns that children can easily fire. Better designs can be achieved with effective external manual safeties, magazine safety disconnects, heavier trigger pulls or trigger designs …
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2025
Man Shoots Self Hiding Gun During Traffic Stop While trying to hide his gun during a traffic stop in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a driver accidentally shot himself in the leg. The man had an active warrant for second degree domestic violence. Officials recovered the gun, and the man was taken to the hospital. He may …
Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Oklahoma Ongoing Investigation
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2025
15-year-old Fatally Shot by Younger Sibling A 15-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by a younger sibling in their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their father was also at home and called the police. No arrests have been made, but there is an ongoing investigation. And a man in his 20s accidentally shot himself at …
Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested New York Ongoing Investigation
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2025
17-year-old Killed in Accidental Shooting In a home in Queens, New York, Deaza Barkley, a 17-year-old high school cheerleader, was accidentally shot and killed. A 16-year-old boy was playing with the gun when it fired. The gun’s serial numbers were scratched off, making it difficult for investigators to determine who owned it. The 16-year-old was …
Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) New York Ohio Ongoing Investigation
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025
Two People Injured in Gun Accidents In Mount Sterling, Ohio, a hunter was found with wounds to their hand and foot from an accidental shooting. The sheriff’s office is investigating. And in a Rochester, New York home, an 11-year-old boy accidentally shot himself while handling a gun. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening …
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025
Two-year-old Boy Critically Injured After Shooting Himself Few details were reported about the accidental, self-inflicted shooting of a two-year-old boy in Memphis, Tennessee. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police did not say how the boy accessed the gun, or if they planned to make any arrests. Source: “2-year-old Boy Accidentally Shot …
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025
Off-duty Agent Shoots Student, Mistaking Water Gun as Real In Yulee, Florida, an 18-year-old high school senior was shot by an off-duty official who thought the student’s water gun was real. The injured student is expected to be OK. The school superintendent had sent a letter to parents two days before the shooting, warning them about the …
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025
11-year-old Boy Injured Playing with Gun In St. Augustine, Florida, the bullet from a gun fired by 13-year-old ricocheted, hitting an 11-year-old boy. The two children were playing with the gun in a wooded area when the 11-year-old was accidentally shot. He was taken to the hospital with not life-threatening injuries. No charges have been …
MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2025
Two-year-old and Father Injured in Accidental Shooting With Pistol Found in Mother’s Purse At home in Springfield, Ohio, a two-year-old boy was injured after he found his mother’s purse that contained a semi-automatic pistol. He brought the purse from the kitchen table to the living room; the gun accidentally discharged, striking him, and grazing his …
Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois Juvenile Arrested Ongoing Investigation
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2025
12-year-old Girl Accidentally Shot and Killed A group of teens playing with guns had gathered in a home in Chicago, Illinois. A 14-year-old boy dropped one of the guns; it discharged, fatally striking 12-year-old Dalilah Batey in the head. Dalilah, a seventh grader, was about to turn 13 in two weeks. Her mother said she …
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2025
Five-year-old Girl Killed by Stray Bullet In Americus, Georgia, five-year-old Peyton Brielle Roberts was playing with other neighborhood children, when she was fatally struck by a stray bullet from a shooting nearby. The shooting also killed a 19-year-old male, and injured a third victim. Police charged 19-year-old Ricky Martin with felony murder, aggravated assault and …
Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Colorado Ongoing Investigation Texas
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025
Actress and 15-year-old Boy Hurt in Gun Accidents Today In Austin, Texas, 40-year-old actress Christy Carlson Romano, was shot in the face while on an outing to celebrate her husband’s birthday. They were shooting clay pigeons, when another member of their party accidentally shot Romano. She was hit by pellets near her eye, and was …
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025
Loaded Glock Found by Child Fires; Killing Five-year-old and Injuring Woman An unsecured 9mm Glock found by a child in a home in Inglis, Florida, accidentally discharged, killing another child, a five-year-old, and critically injuring a woman. Both victims were airlifted to a trauma center, though the five-year-old did not survive. Detectives are investigating. Source: …
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025
Teen Accidentally Shoots and Kills Himself In a home in Alliance, Ohio, a 17-year-old killed himself when a gun he was handling accidentally discharged, striking him in the head. He was with four friends when the shooting happened, and was pronounced dead at the hospital. A police spokesman said that drugs and alcohol may have …
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
Person Injured After Being Shot by Two-year-old According to the sheriff’s office, a two-year-old child accidentally shot a person in Dillon, South Carolina. The victim was treated and released from the hospital. No further information has been reported. Source: “Two-Year-Old Accidentally Shoots Person,” dillonnews.org (February 5, 2025).
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
Man Kills Himself Playing With Modified Glock A man shot and killed himself in Tucson, Arizona, playing with a Glock handgun modified to shoot like an automatic weapon. His friend, Hermando Montano, age 20, was with him when the gun discharged, and then fled the scene and tried to hide the gun. Montano has been …
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2025
One Man Killed When Two Men Play with Guns In Kearns, Utah, two men playing around with guns ended when 23 year-old Dylan Treichel sustained a gunshot wound to his chest, and later died at the hospital. Ashton Johnathon Mann, age 23, told police he and Treichel had smoked marijuana and were handling two different guns. …
Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Juvenile Arrested Ongoing Investigation
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025
Teen Killed When Juveniles Mishandle Gun Few details were reported about an accidental shooting that killed a 16-year-old boy in Greenacres, Florida. Police determined that several juveniles were handling a gun that unintentionally discharged; one of them was charged with second-degree murder with a firearm, and tampering with evidence. The investigation is ongoing. Source: Grace …
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025
Laundromat Owner Shoots Himself in Struggle with Burglar The owner of a laundromat in Duenweg, Missouri, was shot in the hand with his own gun during a struggle with a man he caught burglarizing his business. His injuries were not life-threatening. The suspect fled the fled the scene, but was later arrested by police on …
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025
Two Unintentional Shootings in Vehicles, One Man Dies In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 23-year-old Dylan Wade and another man were in a vehicle, when the man accidentally shot Wade in the shoulder. Wade died at the hospital a short time later. The suspect said he was playing with the pistol and didn’t realize it was loaded. The …
Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Ohio Ongoing Investigation Texas
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025
Two Children Wounded After Finding Guns Left Unsecured In Toledo, Ohio, a 13-year-old boy had a gun in his pants pocket that fired when a 12-year-old boy tried to remove it. The 13-year-old was injured, and went to the hospital for treatment. The boys were left unsupervised in the home of 27-year-old Jocelyn M. Benton, …
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2025
Girl Shot Herself in Hand With Unsecured Gun A young girl in Opelousas, Louisiana, shot herself in the hand while playing with a gun, and is recovering at the hospital. There is an ongoing investigation to determine how she accessed the gun, and if anyone will be charged. Source: “Child in Opelousas Shot Herself in …
Alabama Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Mississippi Ongoing Investigation Safe Storage in Cars
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025
Two Injured in Unintentional Shootings A seven-year-old girl was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition, after being accidentally shot in a home in Ellisville, Mississippi. It appears that a gun held by a family member accidentally discharged. No further information has been reported. While investigating multiple vehicle burglaries, police found a teen accidentally shot …
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2025
Two Fatal Gun Accidents in Illinois In Waukegan, Illinois, 28-year-old Leobardo Diaz was accidentally shot and killed inside a vehicle. He was shot in the back by 31-year-old Fredi Aquilar Carrasco, who walked away from the scene, and then fatally shot himself in a yard nearby. There were four people in the vehicle; the two …
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025
Two Children Accidentally Kill Themselves With Unsecured Guns In Radcliff, Kentucky, a six-year-old boy fatally shot himself in the head, after he found a loaded gun under a pillow in the family bed. He was airlifted to the hospital where he died. Damarco Callen, age 26, admitted that he put the gun there, and left to take …
Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Louisiana Michigan Ongoing Investigation Texas
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025
Two Young Children Find Unsecured Guns and Shoot Themselves; Teen Accidentally Shoots Sibling in Hunting Accident A two year-old boy shot himself in the foot with a gun he found under a bed at home in Harvey, Louisiana. The boy is listed in stable condition at the hospital. Detectives charged the boy’s 18-year-old uncle, Leland Washington with cruelty to …
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025
Seven-year-old Girl Shot and Killed by Sibling In a Kannapolis, North Carolina home, a seven-year-old girl was shot and killed by a sibling, with a gun owned by their mother’s boyfriend, 39-year-old Timothy Burris. Burris lived with them in the home, and he has been charged with child abuse inflicting serious injury, storing a firearm …
Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Mississippi Ongoing Investigation
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025
Juvenile Critically Injured in Accidental Shooting Police said it’s very likely the shooting of a juvenile in a Vicksburg, Mississippi home was accidental. The injured teenager was shot in the neck, and airlifted to the hospital in critical condition. Three young men were hanging out together “in the confines of a friend’s home with a …
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025
One Person Accidentally Shot in Vehicle A person suffered non-life-threatening injuries after an accidental shooting in their vehicle in Troy, Texas. According to police, the person was trying to re-holster their gun when it discharged. Source: Jacob Wallin, “One Person Injured in Accidental Shooting in Troy, Police Say,” kcentv.com (January 21, 2025.
MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2025
Second-grader Shot and Killed by Stepdad In Geneva, Wisconsin, eight-year-old Michael Meagher was accidentally shot and killed by his stepfather, 52-year-old Steven Merkel. The mother of Michael’s best friend set up a GoFundMe account. “Our family is heartbroken…My son loved his friend.” In a statement to detectives, Merkel said that he got a 9mm handgun …
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2025
Eight-year-old Airlifted to Hospital After Accidental Shooting An eight-year-old child was airlifted to the hospital after being accidentally shot in Bledsoe, Kentucky. No update on the child’s condition was reported. Officials are investigating the shooting, and 34-year-old Andrew Sundberg has been charged with wanton endangerment. Source: Corey Elam, “8-year-old Flown to Lexington Hospital, Alabama Man Charged …
Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Indiana Michigan Mississippi Ongoing Investigation
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2025
Five-year-old Girl Killed, and Two Other Young Children Injured in Accidental Shootings A five-year-old girl was at home with a sibling in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, when she was shot and killed. No adult was home at the time. The sheriff’s office has determined it was an accidental shooting, and continue to investigate. A three-year-old in Grand Rapids, …
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025
Driver Unintentionally Shot by Passenger During Traffic Stop In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 21 year-old Cameron Knighton accidentally fired his gun in a vehicle that police had pulled over for a traffic violation. He was in the car with the driver and another passenger, and had unintentionally shot the driver who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Knighton initially …
Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Ohio Virginia
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025
Three Accidental Shootings Today A man accidentally shot himself in the parking lot of an elementary school in Hampton, Virginia. He was found in a vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries and taken to the hospital. The man was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, and reckless …
Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia No Charges Filed Safe Storage in Cars
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025
Teen Accidentally Shoots Himself Unloading Mother’s Gun In a parking lot in Rome, Georgia, a 17-year-old accidentally shot himself in the leg with his mother’s pistol. He removed the gun from a backpack, and was trying to unload it when it fired. Police do not intend to file any charges. Source: Adam Carey, “Report: Teen Shoots …
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025
Innocent Bystander Struck by Bullet Walking Home From Work Walking down a street after work in Brooklyn, New York, 32-year-old Alia Abdul-Raheem was struck by a stray bullet that came from a car that drove past her. She was in shock at first and hurried home, where she realized she had been shot and went …
MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025
Teen Accidentally Shoots and Kills Older Brother A 15-year-old in his home in Texas City, Texas, accidentally shot and killed his 17-year-old brother, Joshua Gonzales. The boys’ father collapsed and died trying to save Joshua. Few details were reported about the shooting. The district attorney’s office will determine if any charges will be filed. In …
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2025
Two Men Shoot Themselves in Separate Accidents During a road rage incident in Houston, Texas, a man shot himself in the arm while confronting the other driver. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and was charged with aggravated assault. And in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, a 20-year-old man was reassembling a handgun when he accidentally shot himself …
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025
Three Gun Accidents Today In Louisville, Kentucky, a ten-year-old girl was taken to the hospital with a graze wound “from what appears to be an accidental discharge from a gun,” according to police. Little information about the incident was reported. In Wichita, Kansas, a man was injured when his gun accidentally discharged while wrestling with a teenager. No one …
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2025
Unintentional Shootings Injure Two Teenagers In Channelview, Texas, a 15-year-old was handling a gun that unintentionally fired, sending a 16-year-old to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. The two juveniles, and a third teen, were playing video games in a room that also contained an airsoft gun and a …
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025
Legally Blind Man Accidentally Shoots Friend During Confrontation With Roommate In Spokane, Washington, 53-year-old Dan D. Phelps accidentally shot his friend Joey Anselmo in the leg, while Anselmo was trying to help Phelps evict his roommate. Phelps, who is legally blind, fired a gun at the roommate’s door, but accidentally hit Anselmo. Phelps told police …
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025
Two People Injured in Gun Accidents A man sustained non-life-threatening injuries after accidentally shooting himself in the hand in Syracuse, New York. Few details about the shooting were reported. And a 24-year-old woman was shot by a member of her hunting party in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. She was treated for her injuries; officials are …
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2025
Man Shot and Killed During Police Chase Adam MacLean, age 50, was killed after leading police on a foot chase after crashing his car in Round Rock, Texas. MacLean fled into a wooded area and began shooting at officers and a drone the police deployed. During an exchange with the department’s SWAT team, one officer …
Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida North Carolina Ongoing Investigation Texas
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2025
One-year-old Child Shoots Self in One of Three Accidental Shootings Today Two brothers were accidentally shot in a home in Houston, Texas. Nineteen-year-old Andres Rosales was pronounced dead at the scene, and 17-year-old Jose Juan Angel Rosales was in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his leg. Their parents, and two friends of the brothers were in …
Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Ongoing Investigation Safe Storage in Cars
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025
Six-year-old Kills Himself with Unsecured Gun Left in Car Six-year-old Major Smith shot and killed himself with an unsecured gun he found inside a car in Lakeland, Florida. He had returned home from shopping with his father and adult brother, and they all exited the vehicle. While his father was on the phone, Major went …
Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois Juvenile Arrested Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania
SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2025
Three People Hurt in Unintentional Shootings In Bloomington, Illinois, an 18-year-old male was injured after he accidentally shot himself with a handgun. When police arrived, a 19-year-old male was trying to leave the scene with the gun before police apprehended him. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment, and the 19-year-old was taken into custody. …
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2025
Decorated Soldier Accidentally Shot and Killed by Husband In West End, North Carolina, Rachel Loken died at the scene after being accidentally shot in the chest by her husband Christopher Loken. According to the sheriff’s office, she was in a different room than her husband when she was struck, and though it has been reported …
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025
Gun Accidents Injure Four People Two people sitting on a couch, watching television in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, were injured when one of them retrieved a gun from a bag and the gun unintentionally fired. He was hit in the left hand and the other person was hit in the arm and knee. They were taken to …
Adult Death Adult Injury Alabama Child Death (18 and Under) Florida Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2025
People Across the Country Struck by Celebratory Gunfire on New Year’s Day Three people are killed in Florida when people fire guns to celebrate the New Year. In Miami, ten-year-old Yanelis Munuguia was watching fireworks with her family in the parking lot of their apartment when she was struck in the head by a stray bullet. She …
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2024
Two Men Hurt in Accidental Shootings While putting groceries into a vehicle, a 22-year-old man accidentally shot himself in the face in a parking lot in San Antonio, Texas. His injury was not life-threatening. Police are investigating. And two friends were drinking alcohol in an apartment in Clovis, California, when one of them took out …
MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2024
Man Killed Clearing Firearm at Gun Range, and Woman Accidentally Shot by Husband At a gun range in Fort Worth, Texas, a man was killed trying to clear his malfunctioning firearm. The gun unintentionally fired striking him in the forehead. He died at the scene. Police are investigating, but say it appears to be “purely …
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2024
Toddler Dies After Shooting Himself In Deer Creek, Minnesota, three-and-a-half-year-old Rudy Sweere fatally shot himself in the head with an unsecured gun. There were other people in the home at the time of the shooting, but few details have been reported. The incident is under investigation, and it is unclear if anyone will be charged. …
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2024
Hunting Accidents Today Result in One Dead, Two Wounded In Kentwood, Louisiana, 61-year-old hunter, Roberto Garcia was killed after another hunter accidentally shot him. The hunter told investigators that Garcia was behind a deer he was shooting at, but blocked from his view by foliage. Garcia died at the scene; the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries …
Adult Arrested Alabama Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Kansas Ongoing Investigation South Carolina Tennessee
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2024
Children Injured in Four Separate Gun Accidents A seven-year-old girl was taken to the hospital in critical condition after shooting herself in the thigh in Memphis, Tennessee. The girl was watching TV in a bedroom with her mother and two others, and found her father’s black Taurus 9mm gun “secured underneath the mattress.” Her father was …
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024
Teen Killed After Friend Drops Gun A 15-year-old boy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dropped a gun that fired killing his 15-year-old best friend Kentrell Royal. He was charged with negligent homicide. The victim’s father said his son was well loved by everyone. He is hoping the senseless tragedy will bring more awareness about the dangers …
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2024
Woman Accidentally Killed by Brother-in-law on Christmas Day In Schaumburg, Illinois, 50-year-old Kellie Barnett was unintentionally shot and killed by her brother-in-law Daniel Garcia, age 52, who thought she was an intruder. Barnett was staying with her sister and Garcia in the guest bedroom, and according to court documents, Garcia kept a loaded Glock 9mm …
Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Nebraska Ongoing Investigation Safe Storage in Cars South Carolina
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2024
Two Unintentional Deaths on Christmas Eve In a vehicle outside a thrift store in Columbia, South Carolina, four-year-old Jah’el Walker was shot and killed. Jah’el was in the car with two other children, and his mother was nearby during the shooting. The police chief said the incident is under investigation to determine exactly what happened. “I’m …
MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2024
12-year-old Boy Kills Himself With Gun He Thought Was Unloaded After Removing Magazine Twelve-year-old seventh grader Jeremiah Nelson, unintentionally shot and killed himself in his St. Petersburg, Florida home. Other children were also in the home, and his mother had just stepped out minutes before the shooting occurred. According to the assistant police chief, “…[h]e …
Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia No Charges Filed Ohio Ongoing Investigation
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2024
Two People Injured in Gun Accidents A mall in Dayton, Ohio, was placed on lockdown after a teenager mishandled a gun and accidentally shot themself. The suspect left before police arrived, and they are working to identify the teen who was shot. Police believe that he is one of a group of males that can …
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2024
Seven-year-old Shot When Upstairs Neighbor Fires Bullet Through Floor A seven-year-old boy in Akron, Ohio, was seriously injured when a bullet fired from the apartment above his went through the floor and struck him. He is in serious, but stable condition at the hospital. During their investigation police found no one in the upstairs apartment, but “what …
Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Juvenile Arrested Safe Storage in Cars Texas
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024
Three-year-olds Involved in Two Accidental Shootings Police believe that the shooting of a three-year-old in Glynn County, Georgia, was an accident. The child was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to their hand. A 17-year-old boy was also in the home at the time, and was arrested for making false statements and tampering …
Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Ongoing Investigation Texas
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2024
Five Injured When Gun Discharges During Massive Brawl Two law enforcement officers and three juveniles were injured by fragments from the accidental discharge of an officer’s gun, during the attempt to de-escalate a massive fight in Forney, Texas. The incident occurred near the high school and intermediate schools, and involved a mob described as anywhere from several dozen to approximately …
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024
Hunter Mistaken for Deer Killed With Shotgun When 23-year-old Skylar McKenzie, joined two other people hunting ducks in Manning, South Carolina, he was mistaken for a deer and fatally shot. The other hunters were not expecting him to join them. McKenzie and the shooter are related, but the specifics have not been reported. The department …
Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Michigan New York Ongoing Investigation
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2024
Two Children Get Hold of Guns and Shoot Themselves In an apartment in the Bronx, New York, a 12-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the foot, and was treated at the hospital for a minor injury. Investigators are trying to determine how he got the gun. And in Detroit, Michigan, a four-year-old boy is expected …
MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2024
Five year-old Girl Shot by Three-year-old Brother with Ghost Gun While in the care of a babysitter in Washington, D.C., a three-year-old boy and his five-year-old sister were playing with an unsecured gun they found, that discharged, seriously injuring the girl. She was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her upper body. …
Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Mississippi Ohio Ongoing Investigation South Carolina
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024
Three Children Killed in Accidental Shootings, Including Toddler Who Found Gun in Drawer In Hopkins, South Carolina, 15-year-old Jayen Gladden was shot and killed by his 14-year-old friend who was cleaning a handgun that accidentally discharged. The 14-year-old has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon by a minor. “It’s sad as a coroner …
Adult Death California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Ongoing Investigation Tennessee West Virginia
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2024
One Adult and Three Children Killed in Unintentionally Shootings During a gathering of people in Columbia, California, 21-year-old Derek James Matthews, accidentally shot himself in the head and died the next day at the hospital. Deputies interviewed witnesses and retrieved a loaded gun as evidence. Derek attended the local elementary and high school, and lived his whole …
Adult Death Adult Injury California Colorado Florida Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Texas
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024
Mother of Toddler Killed, Four Injured, in Unintentional Shootings Few details were reported in the accidental shooting death of a woman at a gas station in San Marcos, Texas. Her toddler was with her at the time. Police are investigating. In Jacksonville, Florida, a 39-year-old man was unintentionally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop for …
Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Ongoing Investigation South Carolina
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024
Accidental Shootings Injure Two People in South Carolina Four juveniles had gathered at a trail in Blythewood, South Carolina to shoot guns, when one of them was accidentally shot in the chest. A witness said two of the juveniles brought guns, and they were all taking turns shooting. The victim was fighting over a gun …
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024
Two People Injured After Unintentionally Shooting Themselves In Toledo, Ohio, a police report indicated that the shooting of a 16 year-old boy was “possibly an accidental self-inflicted incident.” The boy was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. And a man in St. Petersburg, Florida, accidentally shot himself as he walked out of his home …
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2024
Man Accidentally Shoots Self, Airlifted to Hospital A 61-year-old man in George, Washington, was airlifted to the hospital for treatment after he accidentally shot himself in the torso. Deputies recovered the gun used and interviewed witnesses, concluding that the man may have suffered a mental health crisis causing him to fire his gun in the …
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2024
Eight-year-olds Killed In Gun Accidents In Akron, Ohio, eight-year-old D’Angelo Darrel Alcorn unintentionally shot and killed himself. He was at home with his mother when he gained access to the loaded gun, and was taken to the hospital where he later died. Police recovered the gun, and there is an ongoing investigation. At a community …
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2024
High School Senior Dies in Hunting Accident Malachi Lancaster, an 18-year-old high school senior, was killed in a hunting accident in Gainesville, Florida. Early findings indicate a gun accidentally discharged, as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission continue to investigate. Malachi was a football player and was this year’s homecoming king. “…Malachi was just a …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Ohio Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Virginia
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2024
One Person Dead, Three Wounded, in Unintentional Shootings Today In Blackstone, Virginia, a four-year-old boy was seriously injured after he shot himself with a 9mm handgun. He was airlifted to the hospital for treatment. Officials are investigating the incident, and so far no charges have been filed. In Rockwood, Pennsylvania, police have concluded that Richard Cane, age …
Adult Arrested Adult Death California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Louisiana Nevada Ongoing Investigation
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024
Three People Killed in Accidental Shootings, Including a Mother Shot by Her Two-year-old Jessinya Mina, age 22, was shot and killed by her two-year-old child in Fresno, California. According to a statement by Mina’s sister, the gun belonged to her sister’s boyfriend, 18-year-old Andrew Sanchez, who ignored her sister’s request to not keep a gun in the …
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024
Man Shoots Himself in Hunting Accident While trying to climb a tree, a 26-year-old hunter accidentally shot himself in Kingston, New York. He is recovering in the hospital. Source: “Man Accidentally Shoots Himself While Hunting in Kingston,” westchester.news12.com (December 5, 2024).
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
Three People Hurt in Self-inflicted Gun Accidents A 55-year-old man shot himself in the leg in a parking lot in Colmar, Pennsylvania. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A vendor at an assisted living facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, came into the building to use the bathroom, and accidentally shot himself with his concealed handgun. He was …
Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Missouri North Carolina Ongoing Investigation
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024
Two Gun Accidents Involving Young Children In Springfield, Missouri, a four-year-old boy sustained a gunshot wound to his hand after shooting himself with an unsecured gun he found in the home. Calvin Harrell told police that someone must have left the gun there after a party a few days earlier, and admitted he asked a …
California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Ongoing Investigation Safe Storage in Cars
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024
Seven-year-old Finds Gun In Truck’s Glovebox, Fatally Shoots Younger Brother A two-year-old boy was fatally shot by his seven-year-old brother in a parking lot in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The boys were waiting in a truck for their mother who had gone inside the store, when the seven-year-old found a loaded gun in the glovebox. The …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Alabama Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Kentucky Louisiana Ongoing Investigation
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2024
Two Killed, One Injured in Gun Accidents A three-year-old boy shot himself in the leg in an apartment in Birmingham, Alabama. Family members initially said that the shots came from outside the apartment, but police determined that the boy’s non-life-threatening injuries were self-inflicted. So far no one has been charged. In Lake Charles, Louisiana, 66-year-old Cristina …
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2024
Three-year-old Kills Self With Dropped Gun In New Orleans, Louisiana, three-year-old Rudy Ratliff, fatally shot himself after he found a loaded gun that had fallen from the waistband of 47-year-old Tatisha Refuge. Rudy and his mother were visiting Refuge, who the boy’s mother saw as an adopted grandmother to her children. “She kind of raised …
Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Safe Storage in Cars South Dakota
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2024
Teen Killed in Vehicle with Stolen Gun In Rapid City, South Dakota, Isaiah Taha, age 17, was handling a gun in the backseat of a vehicle that fired, fatally striking 16-year-old Kade Potter, who was sitting in the front seat. Police determined that the gun used had been reported stolen from a vehicle last month. …
Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested North Carolina Ohio Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2024
Thanksgiving Day Gun Accidents A seven-year-old girl playing outside with her family in Four Oaks, North Carolina, was shot in the leg by a stray bullet. The girl was taken to the hospital for surgery. The investigation established that neighbors were target practicing when the bullets hit several homes and the seven-year-old. Confronted by the girl’s …
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2024
Two Gun Accidents, One Man Killed A person was taken to the hospital for treatment after accidentally shooting themself in Bristol, Vermont. Police did not release any other details, as they continue to investigate the shooting. And Tyric Edwards, age 25, was passing a gun back and forth with a woman in a car in …
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2024
Toddler Shot During Domestic Gunfight In Detroit, Michigan, a two-year-old boy is in stable condition after he got caught in the crossfire between his mother’s current and ex-boyfriend. Darius Lacey, age 27, had come to his ex’s home to get some of his things, and got into shootout with her current boyfriend. Police found at …
Alcohol and Guns Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Michigan Texas
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2024
Two Boys Shot by Relatives, One is Killed A 16-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene, after being unintentionally shot in a barn behind a home in Tomball, Texas. Rhyder Tettleton, the victim’s 17-year-old brother, has been charged with homicide. The boys’ parents were not home at the time, and a group of teenagers had gathered …
Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2024
Teen Playing With Rifle Kills 17-year-old Girl Syrina Raneri, a 17-year-old high school student was killed in what appears to be an accidental shooting in a home in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Witnesses reported that Kaden Woodring, age 17, pointed a hunting-style rifle at Raneri and shot her. Woodring admitted this, but said he asked Raneri “You …
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024
Man Killed While Putting Loaded Gun in Shorts In a home in Kissimmee, Florida, police found Harvey Lee Brady on the kitchen floor with a gunshot wound to his lower stomach, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. It was determined that he had grabbed his gun off the kitchen counter, and it fired …
Adult Arrested California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024
Toddler Kills Self After Finding Unsecured Gun A two-year-old child died at the hospital, after finding an unsecured gun inside their home in Merced, California, and shooting themself in the face. The child’s father was arrested and charged with child endangerment resulting in death. And in Miami, Florida, a 15-year-old girl is in stable condition …
Adult Death California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Kentucky Ongoing Investigation
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024
Self-inflicted Gun Accidents Kill Three-year-old Girl and Man In a Louisville, Kentucky apartment, three-year-old Aubree Goss found a loaded gun and fatally shot herself. Her father, E’Monta Goss, admitted to police that he fell asleep after he had “loaded and placed the handgun underneath a couch inside the apartment,” and woke up when the gun fired. …
Adult Injury California Child Injury (18 and Under) Illinois Juvenile Arrested Ongoing Investigation Texas
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2024
Toddler and Two Other People Injured in Accidental Shootings A two-year-old child in Overton, Texas was accidentally shot in the chest and airlifted to a hospital for treatment. The child is in stable condition, and no one has been charged at this time. A 16-year-old in Carbondale, Illinois, was unintentionally shot and injured when a group of juveniles mishandled …