Charge of Reckless Endangerment

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Delaware Illinois Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Ongoing Investigation October 3, 2024October 8, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2024

Two People Shot During Police Stop, and Toddler Fires Unsecured Gun Injuring One An investigatory police stop in Chicago, Illinois, resulted in a police officer and 16-year-old Marcus Gracey sustaining gunshot wounds from an unintentional discharge of a gun in Gracey’s possession. Officers noticed a gun in Gracey’s waistband while he was walking along a …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Kentucky Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Safe Storage in Cars Tennessee Washington, DC September 21, 2024September 29, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

Accidental Shootings Injure Four People, Including Two Children In a county park in Hixson, Tennessee, a five-year-old boy left alone in the family car found an unsecured, loaded gun there that fired while he was playing with it. A round grazed his leg causing a non-life-threatening injury. No charges have been filed at this time, but the …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Alcohol and Guns Pennsylvania August 29, 2024September 18, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2024

Man Critically Injured Helping Break Up Fight at Strip Club In a Morrisville, Pennsylvania strip club, Mekhi Norman was helping break up a fight when he was unintentionally shot multiple times by one of the combatants, 27-year-old Pedro E. Rodriguez. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition with injuries to the back of …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Arizona Ongoing Investigation Utah July 8, 2024July 14, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

MONDAY, JULY 8, 2024

Two Men Injured in Gun Accidents Zachery James Hampton, age 26, unintentionally shot himself in the leg at a Walmart self checkout in Richfield, Utah. According to police, Hampton “was apparently adjusting the handgun that was being held in the waistband of his pants when it went off.” Several customers near Hampton, and potentially in …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Children and Guns Maryland Oklahoma Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania July 1, 2024July 6, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

MONDAY, JULY 1, 2024

Gun Accidents Involving Young Children; Three-Year-Old is Killed In Columbia, Maryland, a three-year-old was killed with an unsecured handgun in what police say was an accidental shooting. The child was at home with their parents and five-year-old brother. It has not been determined who pulled the trigger, as police continue to investigate. A three-year-old shot a 33-year-old …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Juvenile Arrested Louisiana Ongoing Investigation Oregon Virginia June 12, 2024June 18, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024

Accidental Shootings Claim the Lives of Two People and Injure Two Others In an apartment complex in Rockledge, Florida, 18-year-old Carlie Bell was accidentally shot and killed. The suspected shooter is cooperating with police in this ongoing investigation. In Alexandria, Louisiana, Jeremiah Dorsey, 17, was arrested and charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of 21-year-old Devyn Sells. …

Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Children and Guns Florida Juvenile Arrested Maryland June 5, 2024June 9, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024

Two Children Killed in Gun Accidents A 5-year-old killed himself while playing with a loaded gun he found inside a home in Cumberland, Maryland. The child’s father, 31-year-old Warin Torae Foster, was watching the boy at the time, and has been charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment and allowing firearm access to a minor. Police are …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Connecticut Iowa Michigan Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania May 22, 2024May 27, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2024

Four People Wounded in Unintentional Shootings A 6-year-old boy was playing with an unsecured gun he found in a home in Detroit, Michigan, and accidentally shot himself in the thumb. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. His grandmother was at home during the incident, but it is unclear who owns the gun. Charges may …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Georgia New Mexico New York Ongoing Investigation May 20, 2024May 23, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024

Two People Struck by Stray Bullets, and Two Other People Injured During Attempted Robberies In Bronx, New York, a 13-year-old boy was walking to the playground with two younger cousins, when he was grazed in the forehead by a stray bullet. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Police are continuing to investigate. An altercation during …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Alcohol and Guns Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Children and Guns Juvenile Arrested Ohio Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Tennessee May 11, 2024May 16, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024

Three People Injured in Unintentional Shootings, Including a 2-year-old Girl A 2-year-old girl was shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition after a firearm unintentionally discharged in an apartment in Knoxville, Tennessee. All individuals involved were questioned by police, and two juvenile boys, ages 12 and 14, have been charged with felony reckless endangerment …

Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Illinois Maryland Ongoing Investigation April 13, 2024April 18, 2024 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2024

Boy Shoots Self with Gun Found in Drawer, and Two Other Children are Shot as Innocent Bystanders In Atlanta, Georgia, a 9-year-old shot himself in the hand playing with an unsecured gun he found in a drawer. Police interviewed the child’s grandmother, who was at home when the shooting occurred, and during their search of …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Connecticut January 9, 2024January 19, 2024 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

Robbery Suspect Unintentionally Shoots Himself The alleged suspect in the robbery of a convenience store in New Haven, Connecticut, unintentionally shot himself and then walked to the local hospital for treatment. The suspect was identified as 51-year-old Manuel Otero, and police determined after viewing surveillance footage, that he was wounded during, or after, the robbery. …

Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Tennessee December 11, 2023December 17, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023

Teen Injured After Being Unintentionally Shot By Older Brother In Maryville, Tennessee, a 15-year-old boy was treated for a gunshot wound to his arm after his 16-year-old brother accidentally shot him. At the hospital, the boy initially told police he was struck by a bullet fired in an altercation between neighbors. Police realized that wasn’t …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Virginia October 17, 2023October 22, 2023 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2023

Man Unintentionally Shot in the Back by Girlfriend A man was unintentionally shot in the back by his girlfriend, Phelicia Swinger, in Bristol, Virginia. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and remains in serious condition. Police say Swinger’s 10-month-old baby was next to her when she fired the shot but was unharmed. Swinger …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Minnesota Mississippi Ongoing Investigation Tennessee August 28, 2023September 1, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2023

A Nine-year-old and Two Women are Victims in Gun Accidents A 9-year-old Brooklyn Park, Minnesota boy is expected to survive after he was shot in the head by his younger brother. The victim’s 7-year-old brother found a loaded handgun in their home and was handling the weapon when it discharged, according to police. There is …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Kentucky Michigan Ongoing Investigation South Carolina August 19, 2023August 23, 2023 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2023

Eight-year-old Child is Shot and Killed with Unsecured Gun, and Four Other People are Hurt in Separate Unintentional Shootings A group of children found a loaded, unsecured gun in a home in Detroit, Michigan. It’s unclear what exactly happened once it was found, but the gun went off killing an eight-year-old. An adult has been …

Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Pennsylvania July 27, 2023July 30, 2023 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023

Two-year-old Girl Unintentionally Shot and Killed with Stolen Gun A 2-year-old girl was accidentally shot in the head and killed by her 14-year-old cousin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The toddler was at home with four adult relatives and three other children, when her cousin, who has developmental disabilities, found an unsecured loaded gun. The DA’s office …

Adult Arrested Arizona Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested New York No Charges Filed Ohio Ongoing Investigation Texas July 7, 2023July 12, 2023 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2023

Two Dead and Three Wounded in Today’s Unintentional Shootings In Houston, Texas, an eight-year-old girl died after being accidentally shot. She was in an apartment with her grandfather and it is unclear who fired the gun. Police believe the weapon used was a revolver that was later found on a bed and they continue to …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Michigan North Carolina Tennessee June 28, 2023July 2, 2023 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023

10-year-old Boy Attending Summer Camp, and Two Other People Hurt in Unintentional Shootings In Knoxville, Tennessee, a 10-year-old boy was shot and critically injured while attending summer camp in the gym of a local YWCA. A gun inside a 14-year-old’s backpack accidentally discharged striking the boy. The 14-year-old left the scene but was detained by …

Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Tennessee June 15, 2023June 19, 2023 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023

13-year-old is Accidentally Shot with Rifle, Two Teenage Brothers Face Charges Outside an apartment complex in Nashville, Tennessee, a 15-year-old boy was handling a bolt action rifle when it accidentally fired, striking a 13-year-old in the shoulder. The shooter’s 16-year-old brother came outside when he heard the gunshot, took the rifle, hid it in their …

Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Tennessee June 5, 2023June 9, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2023

Four Tennessee Teens Injured in Gun Accidents, One While Making a Snapchat Video While recording Snapchat videos in Covington, Tennessee, a 17-year-old was accidentally shot. He was taken to the hospital and there is no word on his current condition. Logan Wall, 18, identified as the shooter, turned himself in and was arrested on a …

Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Illinois June 2, 2023June 6, 2023 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2023

Two Young Girls are Shot and Wounded with Unsecured Guns In Vernon Hills, Illinois, a loaded semi-automatic pistol that was left on a bed accidentally discharged striking a 2-year-old in her arm. She was airlifted to the hospital for specialized care for her serious, not life-threatening injury. It’s not clear how the gun fired, but …

Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Children and Guns Mississippi June 1, 2023June 5, 2023 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2023

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 …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury California Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Kentucky Michigan New York Ohio May 20, 2023May 24, 2023 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2023

Seven People Wounded in Unintentional Shootings With a stolen handgun that he thought made him “look cool,” a 14-year-old in Struthers, Ohio, unintentionally shot a 16-year-old in the stomach. The victim was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. The 14-year-old was showing the gun to the victim, pretending to shoot it, when …

Adult Injury Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Tennessee April 28, 2023May 2, 2023 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023

Teacher Hurt When Gun Fires in Student Backpack Students at a Knoxville, Tennessee high school were briefly placed on “medium” lockdown when a gun “unintentionally” fired in a student’s backpack. A teacher suffered a graze wound in the incident which was described as “very minor.” The 14-year-old student was arrested and charged in a juvenile …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Michigan New York No Charges Filed North Carolina Ongoing Investigation West Virginia December 15, 2022December 19, 2022 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022

A Bluefield, West Virginia 2-year-old and two siblings, age 4 and 6, were playing in a bedroom of their home when the 2-year-old found a loaded .40 caliber pistol and shot himself in the leg. “The hollow-point bullet went through his thigh,” according to a police spokesperson. Although the child lost “a substantial amount of …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois Juvenile Arrested No Charges Filed Tennessee December 5, 2022December 9, 2022 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2022

A Memphis, Tennessee school was placed on lockdown after a 15-year-old accidentally discharged a weapon that he had brought to school. According to the report, another student went to the school nurse with a gunshot wound to his leg. The 15-year-old was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment. Apparently, the incident did not result in …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Illinois Kansas November 24, 2022November 27, 2022 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022

On Thanksgiving Day, a two-year-old and a 19-year-old were unintentionally shot and injured. A Peoria, Illinois two-year-old has serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The news report of the incident implies that he found a loaded gun in his home on Thanksgiving evening and used it to shoot himself. Jordan Parker, a 24-year-old, was arrested and charged …

Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Illinois November 23, 2022November 26, 2022 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022

In Belleville, Illinois, a 19-year-old man apparently accidentally shot an 11-yearold relative. The boy was flown to St. Louis in critical condition. The 19-yearoold, Bobby Joe Greathouse was arrested and charged with “reckless conduct causing great bodily harm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing justice.” Other details of the incident were not released. …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury West Virginia November 9, 2022November 12, 2022 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

A Caneyville, Kentucky man picking up a child from elementary school dropped a gun from his pocket while running with his child in the hallway. The 9mm gun fired a round when it hit the floor which struck the man in the leg. He was airlifted to the hospital for treatment. “Although no children were …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Tennessee March 5, 2022April 24, 2022 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022

A 48-year old woman was shot while sleeping on a couch in a Nashville, Tennessee apartment near Music Row. Jonerica Johnson, age 28, had fired her gun in the air after being told to leave a bar across the street. Johnson was taken into custody and charged with reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly contact, public …

Adult Arrested Alabama Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Michigan Ongoing Investigation January 14, 2022January 17, 2022 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

A pair of three-year old children found loaded guns in their homes and accidentally shot themselves today. In Birmingham, Alabama, a three-year old found a family member’s loaded gun in his home and shot himself in the leg. He is expected to survive. The report notes that it was the second incident in Jefferson County …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Colorado Georgia Ongoing Investigation September 18, 2021September 21, 2021 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

Minimal details were reported about two gun accidents that occurred today. The Winter Park, Colorado police department reported that Eric Van Geet, age 25, was arrested and charged with second degree assault and reckless endangerment after he picked up a .22 caliber revolver inside a local apartment, cocked it, and pulled the trigger. He shot …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Connecticut Georgia Juvenile Arrested Michigan Ongoing Investigation June 9, 2021June 11, 2021 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

In Americus, Georgia, a 16-year old boy was listed in critical condition after being accidentally shot. He and a group of boys were horsing around with a gun on the back deck of a local home. One of the boys, Jordan Hamilton, age 17, was arrested and charged with reckless conduct. In Waterbury, Connecticut, a …

Alabama Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Juvenile Arrested Wisconsin April 30, 2021May 3, 2021 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

A 14-year old was killed and a 16-year old was injured in separate gun accidents today. The 14-year old died after accidentally shooting himself in a residence on Butter and Egg Road in Madison County, Alabama. There is no reporting about how he got his hands on a gun. He was found dead when paramedics …

Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Kentucky April 13, 2021April 16, 2021 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021

18-year old Breanna Porter of Grayson, Kentucky was accidentally shot in the stomach by one of her friends as she and a group of three others were handling a gun. Some members of the group initially told police that an unknown person “ran up to the woman, shot her in the stomach and then ran …

Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Children and Guns Juvenile Arrested Maryland Mississippi New York No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation November 2, 2020November 5, 2020 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020

At least three children were shot in separate gun accidents today. Two were wounded. One was killed. In Senatobia, Mississippi, a two-year old girl found a loaded gun and shot herself. She is being treated at a local hospital and is in stable condition. The incident is being reported as an “accidental discharge.” It is …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Georgia Ongoing Investigation October 23, 2020October 25, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020

For the second time this week, a woman was mistaken for an intruder in the middle of the night and shot by her partner. In an incident that bears a startling similarity to one reported in Utah on Tuesday of this week, a man was woken by noise in his home and grabbed a loaded …

Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) New York October 16, 2020October 20, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020

At a virtual arraignment in New York City on Thursday, prosecutors described a gun accident in a Bronx apartment and its consequences: “The defendant carelessly assumed the firearm was unloaded and discharged the firearm, causing a bullet to strike a sleeping child in the abdomen, ripping through her torso and exiting her body through her …

Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Children and Guns Georgia July 14, 2020July 18, 2020 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2020

In a gun accident in Rochelle, Georgia, a four-year old girl was shot and killed. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation found that “the child was shot while she and her 3-year-old brother were playing with a gun.” The GBI found that the gun was unsecured. The girl’s father, Johnny Lee Kellom, was arrested after the …

Adult Arrested Arizona Child Injury (18 and Under) April 29, 2020May 2, 2020 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2020

In Phoenix, Arizona, a four-year old boy is in a medically induced coma after being accidentally shot in the head by his 15-year old uncle. The boy’s father, Jose Solis, handed the gun to his 15-year old brother and the gun went off while the 15 year-old was handling it. “Jose was looking at his …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Georgia March 21, 2020March 23, 2020 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

Daryl Gunnison, a 28-year old Atlanta, Georgia man was shot by his girlfriend, who was playing with a gun. This is the second report of a serious gun accident in Atlanta in two days. Gunnison was shot in the chest. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries, where he later died. …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Georgia March 20, 2020March 22, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020

A three-year old girl and her father were both injured in Atlanta, Georgia, when the father’s gun accidentally went off while he was handling it inside their apartment. The father, Sahir Duvall, was shot in the hand and his daughter was shot in the neck. Duvall drove them both to the hospital where they were …

Adult Arrested Adult Death West Virginia February 28, 2020March 1, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Malinda Broyles of Fairmount West Virginia died after being accidentally shot in the neck. Gene McIntosh was reportedly manipulating the action on his rifle when the gun fired. Although Mr. McIntosh was charged with wanton endangerment and the circumstances of the accident are still being investigated, a rifle should not fire unless the trigger is …

Adult Arrested Indiana No injuries January 20, 2020February 26, 2020 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020

A bullet accidentally fired in Chesterton, Indiana, near Gary, passed through two adjoining apartments and narrowly missed a three-year old child. According to a police report, Samuel Duley, a 22-year old, was cleaning his rifle inside the apartment building when it went off. He had removed the gun’s ammunition clip, but “he must have spaced …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Pennsylvania January 18, 2020February 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2020

In Allentown, Pennsylvania, an accidentally discharged round passed through the shooter’s bedroom door, across a hallway and through another door where it struck 52-year old Virgen Milagros Rivera, who was critically injured. The shooter, who was found to have negligently handled the firearm, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment. He was …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury New York January 9, 2020February 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

A 19-year old Clifton Park, New York woman, Kylee L. Stark, was charged with first degree reckless endangerment after accidentally discharging a shotgun inside her apartment while taking pictures of herself on her cell phone. There were no injuries. Ms. Stark was arraigned in Halfmoon Town Court and was released on her own recognizance. Source: …