4-Year-Old Accidentally Shoots 2-Year-Old in Minnesota
The 4-year-old shot their younger sibling after reportedly finding a loaded gun in the back seat of a vehicle
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crime scene tapeAuthorities in Minnesota are investigating a shooting that left a 2-year-old wounded.
According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, a 4-year-old child fired a loaded weapon at their sibling over the weekend in what is believed to be an accidental incident.
Related: 5-Year-Old Ga. Girl Is Killed in Thanksgiving 'Accidental Shooting' by 3-Year-Old Relative
Deputies were called to the scene just before 10:30 a.m. on Sunday after responding to a call placed from a vehicle in the 1300 block of 130th Ave, NBC affiliate news station Kare 11 stated.
Multiple outlets reported that the 4-year-old allegedly found the firearm in the backseat of the vehicle before shooting their younger sibling. When officials received the call about the incident, the driver was en route toward Fairmount to receive medical assistance for the young child.
In a news release shared by the sheriff's office, authorities stated that deputies met the motorist near the 1800 block of 120th Street where they attempted to render aid before the child was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
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accident or crime scene cordon tapeMPR News added that the 2-year-old was sitting in the backseat with the older child when they were struck.
Martin County Chief Deputy Corey Klanderud confirmed to KARE 11 that the individual who made the call to first responders was the children’s parent. Klanderud did not specify with the outlet whether or not the loaded gun belonged to the adult.
As of Tuesday morning, the sheriff's office had not received updates on the child's condition. If criminal charges are filed, they will come from the Martin County Attorney's Office.
No other information was immediately available.
Just last month, a man in Florida was charged after a toddler he was watching shot herself with a handgun that he allegedly left sitting out.
Orlando Young was the individual identified in the late September incident.
According to an arrest report obtained by Local 10 News, Young was watching the relative and told police that “he momentarily left his gun unattended on the couch because he was excited about a touchdown.”
Additionally, WSVN added that the toddler needed surgery to reattach her finger after the injury. The little girl was transported to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Southwest Miami-Dade for the procedure.
“It could’ve been worse than this. I don’t appreciate it at all,” the child’s grandmother, Robin Fuller, told the outlet.
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Young was charged with a single count of child neglect causing great bodily harm, according to Miami-Dade County court records.
He was held at Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Center and also faced a charge of battery by a detainee on a visitor or other detainee, for allegedly hitting another inmate, court records showed.
For more information on safe firearm storage and the most effective ways to protect children from unsecured firearms, visit BeSMARTforkids.org.
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