4-year-old accidentally shoots self while sitting in bed next to mom, Missouri cops say
A 4-year-old accidentally shot himself in the leg while sitting next to his mother, Missouri police said.
Now, the child’s mother and a man are facing child endangerment charges. The two were arrested and are each held on a $250,000 bond, according to court records.
McClatchy News is not identifying the two to protect the identity of the child.
The 4-year-old’s mother was lying in bed next to him when she heard a gunshot, according to St. Louis County police. She picked up the child and noticed he had been shot in the leg, police said.
The child was taken to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries, according to police.
Upon investigating the St Louis home, police found a bullet hole in the blanket where the child had been sitting, according to police. Police determined the gunshot was self-inflicted, according to court documents.
The man was in the home at the time of the shooting, police said, though they did not specify his connection to the mother or child. The owner of the gun was not listed in court documents.
Attorney information for the suspects was not listed.
What to know about gun violence in the US
Thousands of people die every year from firearm injuries in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem,” officials said. “In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States – that’s about 124 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day.”
Firearm-related injuries were one of the top leading causes of death for people ages 1 to 44 in 2020, the CDC reported.
“More than half of firearm-related deaths were suicides and more than 4 out of every 10 were firearm homicides,” the CDC says.
The impact of gun violence, however, goes beyond the death toll, experts said.
“The effects of firearm violence extend beyond victims and their families,” according to the CDC. “Shooting incidents, including those in homes, schools, houses of worship, workplaces, shopping areas, on the street or at community events can affect the sense of safety and security of entire communities and impact everyday decisions.”
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