Update: 2 arrested in 6-year-old's accidental, self-inflicted shooting death
Update, Oct. 18, 2022: The boy's stepfather, Ronald Matthews, was sentenced to 30 months of probation after pleading guilty to tampering with physical evidence, a Class 6 felony. Matthews deleted text messages between himself and his wife, the boy's mother Rosinetta Mackall, from the day the child died, prosecutors said.
Mackall's criminal case is ongoing, and she is next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 2.
Update, April 29, 2022: Rosinetta Mackall and Ronald Matthews turned themselves in and were booked at the Larimer County Jail Friday.
Original story: Police say the boy who accidentally shot and killed himself earlier this month did so after his mother left a gun out in their home on the day he died.
On April 10, Fort Collins Police Services responded to a home in the 1200 block of Lincoln Avenue after a caller reported a 6-year-old child had shot himself. The boy, later identified by the Larimer County Coroner's Office as Roy Summers, was taken to an area hospital but died as a result of his injuries.
Thursday, police shared information on how they believe Summers came in contact with the gun and said they were seeking the public's help locating two adults facing arrest in the case — Summers' mother and her husband.
Detectives say Summers' mother took the handgun out earlier in the day on April 10 and left it "in an area frequently accessed by her children." They believe Summers picked up the firearm and shot himself accidentally hours later.
Previous coverage: Fort Collins police investigate 6-year-old's shooting death, believed to be accidental
An arrest warrant was issued for Summers' mother, Rosinetta Mackall, on accusations of child abuse and unlawful storage of a firearm related to the shooting. Mackall's husband, Ronald Matthews, was not present for the incident but is accused of lying to police about "his interactions with Mackall surrounding the incident" and tampering with evidence of their conversation. A warrant has been issued for his arrest as well.
Police say they've been trying to find Mackall and Matthews since April 21, when arrest warrants for both adults were signed, but said they have not been successful in finding or contacting them. They were last contacted by authorities during a virtual civil court hearing that day, according to the press release, and detectives think they may have left the area afterward.
Those with information about the case or the location of Mackall and/or Matthews are asked to contact Detective Matt Schuh at 970-416-8043 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or www.stopcriminals.org.
“While people will be held accountable for their reckless actions, nothing can bring back this little boy. Justice feels like a hollow word in cases like this, but each of us can honor Roy’s life through our own actions,” Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said in the news release.
“If you own guns, always keep them secured. Talk to your family and friends about safe storage and handling. Please remember Roy and take responsibility.”
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.
Gun safety tips for parents and families
If you're a parent or guardian of a child and have firearms in your home, here are some tips on how to keep the children in your home safe.
Keep guns out of reach and sight of children. Store them in a locked safe or container, and hide lock combinations.
Store guns unloaded and store ammunition securely in a separate locked container.
When a gun is not stored, keep it in your possession and control at all times.
If a visitor has a gun, provide a secure place for them to store it while in your home.
While handling a firearm, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, meaning pointed in a way so even if it accidentally goes off, it wouldn't injure someone.
Use a gun locking device that makes the firearm inoperable while not in use, in addition to keeping it in a locked cabinet or safe.
Make sure young people in your home are aware of and understand safety guidelines concerning firearms:
Seeing a gun in real life is different than seeing a gun on television, in a movie or video game — A gun in real life can be dangerous.
Teach children to tell an adult and not touch a gun if they see or find one.
For more information on the Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition, visit larimer.org/cja/juvenile-gun-safety.
Tips courtesy of the the Larimer County Juvenile Gun Safety Coalition and the nonprofit Safe Kids Worldwide.
Coloradoan reporter Sady Swanson contributed to this report.
Molly Bohannon covers education for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter @molboha or contact her at mbohannon@coloradoan.com. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins police: 2 arrested in child's accidental shooting death
