DETROIT, MI – An unsupervised 5-year-old boy fatally shot himself in the face with an unattended gun in Detroit, according to local law enforcement. The child and his four siblings, all under the age of nine, were allegedly alone in their apartment on Saturday. The fatal incident occurred after the boy gained access to a firearm left on a dresser.
In detailing the horrific event, Detroit Police Chief James White stated that the boy played with the dangerous weapon while jumping on the bed. While he was playing, he turned the gun on himself and accidentally shot himself in the face. The boy died at the residence, witnessed by his four distressed siblings.
Expressing his outrage about the preventable death, Chief White condemned the situation as “absolutely unacceptable” and lambasted the parents’ actions as “irresponsible” and “unnecessary.” The Police Chief has been a vocal advocate for safe gun storage, pointing out several past incidents involving unsupervised children injuring themselves or others via firearms within the city.
Long-term resident and gun owner, Troy Gainey, expressed his dismay over the tragic event. He called for prayers for the affected children and urged fellow gun owners to practice safe handling of firearms and closely monitor their kids.
The parents have been apprehended following the incident. It was reported that one parent was working on a car while the other parent was visiting friends when the incident occurred. The charges they’ll face will be determined by prosecutors, in light of the recent gun storage laws signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Currently, the four surviving children are in the custody of Child Protective Services.