Toddler finds gun under mattress, shoots himself, 2 adults charged

A 3-year-old Jacksonville, Florida boy found a loaded, unlocked handgun under a mattress in his parent's bedroom and shot the gun. The bullet hit the concrete floor and the child was struck with fragments that ricocheted into his shoulder. The injury was not life-threatening.

According to the article:

Barbara Anne Powell, 22, and Gregory Eugene Chisholm, 24, are charged with one count each of child neglect and culpable negligence. Chisholm also was charged with violating the terms of his probation.

Police would not say if they are the victim’s parents. This information was redacted from the arrest report.

There were other children in the home at the time, including the boy's 5-year-old sister who was in the room when the shooting occurred.

According to the arrest report, one of the children told police, "My daddy always keeps the gun underneath the mattress."

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.