11-year old boy killed in accidental shooting in Houston

One of the boys taken for questioning.

An 11-year old boy and some other kids were playing with a loaded, unsecured gun in the home of a relative in Houston, Texas, when the gun went off.  After a richochet, the bullet hit the shoulder of the boy, eventually killing him.


From the article:

According to the Houston Police Department, several kids were playing with a gun in an apartment when a shot was accidentally fired. The bullet ricocheted off a balcony and hit the young victim in his shoulder. 

It all went down at the home of a family member, according to police. The boy was later identified by friends as Alex Wenzel. 

“Before he died, my neighbor came out here, she’s a nurse, and she performed CPR on him,” said resident Brian Esparza. “She said after about 10 minutes he passed away.”

Some of the children from the apartment were taken for questioning in the shooting.

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

Kentucky toddler killed by 3-year old sibling who found loaded pistol

A 13-month old was shot dead in Radcliff, Kentucky, by a 3-year old sibling who got hold of a loaded, unsecured gun in the home.

From the article:

Police said when officers arrived at the home on Keith Ct., they found that a 13-month-old had been fatally shot by a 3-year-old. 

Investigators said they believe the 3-year-old found a pistol in the home and caused it to accidentally discharge while playing with it.

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

Fan at Little League game pulls gun on fellow fans

A 58-year old fan was using "loud and profane" language while watching a Little League game in Quilcene, Washington.  When another fan told him to watch his language in front of the kids, the man went to his vehicle, retrieved a .32-caliber handgun, then came back and threatened the other man with it, then pointed the gun up into the bleachers where other adults and children were seated.

From the article:

A Brinnon man was arrested Saturday evening at a Little League field after he threatened another man with a gun during an altercation. The suspect, 58, was booked into Jefferson County jail on charges of assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment, and harassment, police said.

Witnesses told police that the suspect was using "loud and profane" language when another spectator, a 64-year-old Quilcene man asked him to watch his language in front of the children. The suspect then allegedly walked to his car, leading the witnesses to believe he was leaving. However, he returned with a handgun.

The suspect then reportedly pointed the handgun in the other man's face, threatening to kill him. The gun was also pointed toward the bleachers, where adults and children were watching the game. The suspect left without firing the gun.

Police said the uspsect told deputies he felt threatened by the other man. They recovered a .32 ACP caliber handgun at his home.

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8-year old North Carolina boy shot by 15- and 16-year old boys

An 8-year old boy was in his home when two boys, ages 15 and 16, fired into the home from the outside, in Laurinburg, North Carolina.  The young boy was wounded in the shoulder and jaw.

From the article:

According to Godwin, an 8-year-old was hit by a bullet in the left shoulder and jaw. The victim was initially taken to Scotland Memorial Hospital before being flown to the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C.

A 15-year-old is charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, Going Armed to The Terror of the Public, Possession of a Handgun by a Minor, Shooting Into an Occupied Dwelling Inflicting Serious Injury, Discharging a Firearm in the City Limits. He is being held at juvenile facility until his first court appearance.

A second suspect faces the same charges. Godwin says he is Antonio O'Brian Lane, 16, of 1101 Apt. C Tara Drive, Laurinburg, N.C.

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

UPDATE (5/9/12):  The 8-year old has been released out of the hospital and returned home.

Officers say the bullet is still inside the boy because doctors feared taking it out could cause more damage.

Police say the boy is making a great recovery.

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6-year old girl watches as father shoots three Florida college students, two die

32-year old Joshua Davis, who worked at a McDonald's restaurant, invited three 19-year old hispanic Polk State University students and coworkers to his Winter Haven, Florida home to smoke marijuana.

While the young men were visiting, Davis's 6-year old daughter walked in.  Davis got a "dark feeling" and shot the three young men at close range.  Two died.  The third is in serious but stable condition, shot multiple times.  The girl witnessed the whole event.

From the article:

One victim, Esteban Zavala, 19, survived the shooting in serious but stable condition, but two other victims, students Joe S. Palacios and Christian Rodriguez, both 19, died. The suspect, Joshua Davis, 32, has reportedly confessed to the crime and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of child abuse.

According to police, Davis invited the Polk State College victims, who were apparently coworkers of his at a local McDonalds, over to his apartment where they allegedly smoked marijuana. After Davis let his 6-year-old daughter into his living room, he got what he characterized as a "dark feeling" when the boys said something to each other in Spanish while looking at his daughter. That's when Davis got his 9 mm hand gun from his bedroom and fired at Palacios and Rodriguez at close range. Zavala was shot several times but escaped the apartment.

"Everyone associated with this great institution felt as though we had been punched in the gut, that our hearts have been ripped out," Polk State College President Eileen Holden said during a Wednesday briefing on campus about the crime.

She characterized the students as "popular" and "successful."

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17-year old Pennsylvania girl threatened with gun by father over cell phone argument

A 17-year old girl in Gilbert, Pennsylvania, was in an argument with her father over a cell phone when the man threatened her with a 9mm semi-auto rifle.

From the article:

A Gilbert man who was arguing with his 17-year-old daughter over a cell phone allegedly pointed a gun at the girl and threatened to shoot her on Wednesday, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Jason Llewellyn, 42, allegedly pointed what police identified as a 9-mm semiautomatic rifle at the girl.

Police were called and Llewellyn was arrested without incident and taken to Monroe County Correctional Facility, police said. He was charged with making terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment, and recklessly endangering the welfare of a child among other charges. His bail was set at $10,000.

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Teen found with loaded gun at Charlotte, NC high school

A teen was found to have a loaded handgun at West Charlotte High School, in Charlotte, North Carolina, though he was a student at another school program.

From the article:

A student was arrested after a loaded gun was discovered Tuesday at West Charlotte High School.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the incident happened at 2:40 p.m. on campus, but details and the name and age of the student weren’t immediately available.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokeswoman said the charged student is not a West Charlotte student but is enrolled in CMS’ Right Choices Program.

No one was injured, the spokeswoman said.

The Right Choices Program is for students who have violated the school system’s code of student conduct. “Right Choices is a six weeks placement that provides a more structured alternative setting, with support services from various human services agencies, for aggressive students,” according to CMS’ website.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/24/3195927/cms-loaded-gun-found-at-west-charlotte.html#storylink=cpy

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

10-year old boy seen with gun in Illinois, shots fired

A boy who looked to be 10 years old was seen with a gun and arguing with teen boys, in the West Bluff area of Peoria, Illinois.  Shots were heard fired, but police weren't able to find the boys or confirm the shooting.

From the article:

A woman told police she heard gunshots in her West Bluff neighborhood Tuesday night after seeing a group of teenage males arguing and a young boy with a gun.

The witness, who reported the shots about 7:35 p.m. in the 800 block of West Columbia Terrace near Franklin-Edison Primary School, told police she saw a boy who appeared to be 10 years old with a gun before hearing shots fired a few minutes later.

Police searched the area but did not locate any victims, suspects or evidence of gunshots.

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

5-year old Indiana girl and mother nearly hit inside home from gun range stray bullets

A woman and her 5-year old daughter were at a home in Galveston, Indiana, eating lunch, when their home was peppered with bullets from a machine gun shot at a shooting event at a nearby gun shop.

From the article:

Lori Stout told the newspaper she was sitting at the dining room table at her mother’s home April 14 while her 5-year-old daughter ate lunch nearby when she heard the glass break in a window above the front door. At first she thought someone was throwing rocks, but when she heard a popping noise she realized it was gunfire and called 911.

“I just didn’t know where to go,” Stout said. “I had to go get my phone and I thought, ‘What if they start shooting again?’ ”

Police found a bullet lodged in a wooden door frame inside the home and another bullet in the drywall upstairs. The first bullet nearly hit the mother and daughter, a police report said.

“If the round would have traveled three inches to the right, there is a high probability chance that Lori and/or her daughter could have been struck,” the report said.

Police said officers determined the bullets came from a shooting event at a rural property sponsored by Down by the Tracks Gun Store in Galveston. Police went to the shoot and ordered the 60 to 70 people present to stop shooting their weapons, the report said.

Store attorney Larry Hansen said active shooting was taking place at other nearby properties that day and declined to comment on whether any laws were broken. He also said there only were about 15 to 20 shooters.

Gun store owner Melvin Cardwell and others helped police identify the weapon from which the bullet had been fired. Witnesses told police the machine gun had been fired by an unidentified woman. Shooters were supposed to fire at a backstop that was about 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide, the police report said.

Other nearby properties also were hit by bullets, the police report said.

Stout said she is grateful no one was harmed, but she would like to see some sort of judicial action taken.

“I’d like someone to be held responsible,” Stout said. “Accidents happen, but there needs to be some level of accountability.” 

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15-year old Arizona boy shot in leg during "suicide by cop" attempt

A 15-year old boy in Surprise, Arizona, near Phoenix, apparently called for police and then appeared to them with a rifle when they responded.  He raised the weapon, in an apparent "suicide by cop" attempt, and was shot at least once in the leg.

From the article:

Shortly after 9 a.m., police received an emergency call about a person with a rifle who was in the backyard of a house.

Based on evidence on scene and statements made by the teen, they determined he was the one who called police and requested an officer, police say.

Two officers arrived and were immediately "confronted" by a juvenile holding a rifle, Anzini said.

The officers repeatedly told the teenager to drop the weapon. The teenager, who lives at the residence, ignored the officers' commands. The youth eventually pointed the rifle at the officers, Anzini said. The officers fired at him and struck the teen at least once. It is unclear how many times he was shot, the police spokesman said.

The teeanger was taken to John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital, Fire Department spokeswoman Renee Hamblin said.

An adult male, who may be an older sibling of the teenager, was home at the time of the shooting, police say.

The police say it is unclear whether or not drugs or alcohol may have been involved in the incident.

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

17-year old brings BB gun to Maryland school

A 17-year old boy was found with a BB gun at a school in La Plata, Maryland.

From the article:

A 17-year-old boy was arrested after he was found with a BB gun at a Charles County high school, authorities said.

Wednesday at about 9:45 a.m., a tipster reported to Crime Solvers seeing a student with what appeared to be a handgun in a classroom at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf. Deputies found a BB gun in the suspect's coat pocket, and they also found that the suspect was in possession of a box cutter razor knife, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office.

The teenager was charged with carrying a weapon on school property, authorities said, and was released into parental custody. 

Charles County Public Schools spokeswoman Katie O'Malley-Simpson said parents received an email about the incident and that, generally, students who are caught with a gun could receive a suspension or an expulsion.

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

2nd-Grade boy brings cocked and loaded gun to school in Arkansas to play Cowboys and Indians

An 8-year old boy brought a cocked and loaded .22-caliber revolver to school with him in Little Rock, Arkansas, showing it off to a friend and apparently wanting to play "Cowboys and Indians."

From the article:

Authorities in Little Rock say a second-grader at Daisy Bates Elementary School is recommended for expulsion after bringing a cocked and loaded pistol to school to show a friend.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday that the 8-year-old boy had the gun in his backpack and showed it to a friend, who alerted a teacher.

The boy, who is not being named because of his age, told a sheriff’s deputy he had hoped to play cowboys and Indians with the .22-caliber revolver.

The investigative report says the boy’s father was shaken and told deputies the pistol should have been in a locked gun cabinet.

From a related article:

"All him and his brothers have been taught... that's a dangerous thing and it's nothing to play with," said Young.

She said, "It's a situation we've all trained our kids, grand kids to be aware and it's sad that they have to be aware."

The student could face expulsion, but no criminal charges as deputies say you have to be 10-years-old to be charged with a felony in the state.  The parents could still face criminal charges.

The child told deputies he wanted to play cowboys and Indians and show his friend the gun.  He said he was sorry he brought it to class.

The boy's father told deputies the .22 revolver was supposed to be locked up and he wasn't sure how the child got his hands on the gun.

Deputies say the child has Asperger Syndrome and did not realize the severity of the offense.

Roush said, "We applaud the student for doing the right thing and telling an adult what he had seen and what he had suspected."

She said they are planning a gun safety assembly at the school and reminded parents to check backpacks before they leave the house.

Apparently training a child in gun safety wasn't enough to keep him from doing this, nor, apparently, locking it up.  And as if having a gun in the home wasn't dangerous enough, this home had a child with Asperger's Syndrome!

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

Michigan robber points gun at baby and threatens to kill the child

Two men threaten a couple at gunpoint and enter their Taylor, Michigan home during a robbery.  At one point, one of the men pointed the gun at a baby in the home and threatened to kill the child, saying, “Give me all your money or I’ll kill the kid!"  Luckily, the baby is unharmed.

From the article:

A woman was approached outside her house in the 5900 block of Huron Street at 9 p.m. by two black men, one of whom pointed a gun at her and told her it was a robbery.

They entered through the front door, where the woman’s boyfriend and one-month old baby were inside. A scuffle ensued with the girl’s boyfriend, and one of the men pointed his gun at the baby.

He said, “Give me all your money or I’ll kill the kid,” according to a report.

The woman began screaming outside and the two men ran from the house. Her boyfriend ran to his car and chased the two men one block west on Hipp Street.

The man with the gun turned and fired a stray shot at the boyfriend, but did not hit him. The two men climbed into an older model dark color sport utility vehicle, described as possibly a GMC Suburban or Chevrolet Tahoe, and drove away.

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Man leaves loaded 9mm handgun in 3-year old daughter's backpack and dropped her off at school

For some reason, a man in San Antonio, Texas, decided to put his loaded 9mm handgun into his daughter's backpack, then dropped her off at daycare before leaving.  A teacher discovered the gun and cleared the room.  The gun was returned to the man -- no charges filed, no parents notified. 

The man is a concealed handgun license permit holder.

From the article and video:

When the teacher discovered the firearm, she notified administration immediately, cleared the kids out of the classroom, and called police.

While school owner Sharon Ford maintains her employees did everything right, there is at least one woman who questions what did not happen that day.

"We should have been on lockdown until the gun left the building, staff should've been notified, parents should've been notified, letters should've been sent out," said a woman has asked to be kept anonymous.

Ford explained notifying the parents might have embarrassed the student and her father.

She also explained management chose not to notify parents because the responding officer told them not to speak to anyone about the incident as long as it was under investigation.

Johnson said the girl's father realized his mistake and returned to retrieve it on his own that morning.

According to Johnson, no criminal charges were filed, no background check was done and the gun was returned to the owner the same day.

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

10th-Grade boy brings gun to Ohio school then flees after handing it over

A 10th-grade boy brought a gun to Jefferson High School in Jefferson Township, Ohio.  After handing over the gun, he made a run for it.

From the article:

A 10th-grader who brought a loaded gun to Jefferson High school on Friday voluntarily handed it over to the teacher who confronted the student, district Superintendent Dr. Richard Gates told News Center 7.

The student, whose name is not being released, then ran off and had not been apprehended as of Friday night.

According to Montgomery County sheriff’s Maj. David Hale, the high school's administration and staff chased the student into a field across the street from the school building. The school was put on lockdown for a time.

The student's name is not being released.

Deputies called in a K-9 unit and were able to track the student about a mile east of the school before the caninetired, said Hale.

"We know who he is," Hale said. "All he did was put our officers through the ringer. He'll still be charged and has avoided nothing."

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

Fourth-grade boy brings unloaded gun to Alabama school

A fourth-grade boy was found to have an unloaded handgun in his backpack, at Whitley Elementary School in Mobile, Alabama.

From the article:

The fourth-grader, a male, was allegedly carrying an unloaded handgun in his backpack, said school system spokeswoman Nancy Pierce. Another student saw the gun and told an adult.

The student who brought the gun was suspended from the Prichard school.

This is the 16th time that a student has been caught with a gun in Mobile County’s public schools, and the first time at an elementary school. According to Press-Register archives, some of the other instances were at Denton Middle, Blount High and Baker High.

In most instances, it’s a student who turns another student in.

Pierce said schools encourage students to tell a teacher or administrator if they see a gun.

“Most kids are in school to learn,” Pierce said. “They don’t want that mess in their school.”

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

Apparent murder/suicide in Las Vegas leaves mother and 10-year old girl dead, 9-year old boy reports at school

A 9-year old boy in Las Vegas walked to school and reported to his teachers that his mother and sister were dead.  When police went to the home, they found the boy's mother and 10-year old sister dead, and a father with a head wound.  A 4-year old was also home at the time.

From the article:

A 9-year-old boy arrived at school Monday with a grisly story: His mother and sister were dead at their home four blocks away. 

Minutes later, police found the bodies of a 10-year-old girl and her mother – along with a blood-covered father and an unharmed 4-year-old boy – in a modest home in a West Las Vegas neighborhood, authorities said. 

The five people belonged to a single family, police Officer Jacinto Rivera said. 

The man, who was hospitalized with a head injury, was not immediately identified as a suspect or charged. 

Police wouldn't immediately say how or when the slayings occurred, but Rivera said there was no immediate evidence of a break-in at the home or that a suspect was on the loose. 

One neighbor, Lucinda Jackson Griffith, said she heard at least one gunshot early Monday.

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School bus window shattered by BB gun-wielding boy in North Carolina

A school bus transporting 12 kids and two adults back from a track meet had a window shot out by a boy with a "BB gun pistol."  Luckily, even though two kids were sitting in the seat next to the window, no one was injured.

From the article and news video:

Police say a juvenile playing outside with a BB gun accidentally shot a Beaufort County Schools activity bus Wednesday night. The gunfire shattered a window on the bus that was carrying the Northside High School track team. 

School system spokeswoman Sarah Hodges says no students were injured and fast thinking of the driver, who is also coach at the school, got the students out of harm's way. 

Hodges says the bus was on its way back to the school after a meet at Southside High School and had 12 students and two adults on-board. 

Lt. William Chrismon says it happened on John Small Avenue. He said the bus driver immediately left the area and got the children to a safe location. 

Chrismon says they are still investigating, but the case has been referred to juvenile authorities.

North Carolina juvenile shoots self while playing with father's gun

A child in Washington, North Carolina, was playing with his father's .25-caliber semi-automatic gun at home when it discharged, hitting the child in the hand and leg.

The father has now been charged:

Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office say it happened March 15th when they responded to a report of a juvenile victim with a gunshot wound. Fortunately, the victim's injuries weren't life threatening. 

Investigation into the incident showed the incident happened at the victim's residence. Deputies discovered a .25 caliber semi-automatic  handgun during a search of the home. 

It appears that the juvenile found a handgun in his residence, began playing with it, and it discharged sending a bullet through the victim’s hand and into his leg. 

40-year-old Bartolo Castillo Mondragon was charged with Failure to Store a Firearm to Protect a Minor. He placed in the Beaufort County Detention Center on an $8,000.00 secured bond.

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

3-year old boy shot by 2-year old brother with gun left in vehicle

A man in Port Arthur, Texas, was in his car with his 3-year old and 2-year old sons playing in the yard when he decided to go back into his house to get something, leaving the boys unsupervised.  Unfortunately, he also left behind his holstered 9mm handgun in the driver's seat, which had no safety.  The 2-year old got hold of the gun and discharged it, striking his 3-year old brother in the hip.

From the article:

The injured boy, who remains in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit, was shot outside his home in the 3200 block of 40th Street when his 2-year-old brother picked up 9 mm Glock pistol and the gun discharged. 

The bullet hit the 3-year-old boy on his backside. 

Major Raymond Clark with the Port Arthur Police Department said the gun did not have a safety to keep it from firing. 

Clark said the boys' father left the gun in the seat of a truck while the boys were playing in the front yard. Clark added that when the boys' father went back inside the house to get something, the younger brother got the gun from the truck. 

The injured boy was initially taken to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital and was later transferred to Houston for treatment.

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

Florida 6-year old goes to school with two loaded handguns in backpack

A 6-year old child was caught at a Lake Worth, Florida school with two loaded handguns in their backpack.

From the article:

Authorities made a startling discovery at a Florida elementary school.

They say a 6-year-old showed up to class with two loaded guns in her backpack.
The child did not take the guns out and no one was hurt.

A district spokesman for the school says the weapons may have been put there by a relative who was in the process of moving from one house to another.

An investigation is under way.

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

8-year old girl wounded when loaded shotgun falls to floor in California

An 8-year old girl was sitting and watching TV with a 7-year old friend when a loaded, unsecured shotgun fell to the floor.  The gun discharged, hitting the 8-year old in the arm and torso with birdshot. 

An adult was resting in a bedroom, and other adults were outside.  The gun may have fallen because of a dog.

Luckily the 7-year old was not injured.

From the article:

The victim, whose name was withheld, was shot in the arm by a 20-gauge shotgun at a residence in the 9100 block of Oat Avenue in Gerber, a sheriff's press release said.

The shotgun had been left loaded and propped against a wall of the dining room with the butt of the gun on a small wicker chair when it fell and discharged a load of birdshot into the living room, the release said.

Pellets went through the arm of one of the couches and struck the victim in her bicep and abdomen causing major injuries.

The 8-year-old victim and her 7-year-old friend were watching television alone in the living room when the gun went off, the release said.

One adult was in a bedroom while the rest of the family members were outside when the incident occurred.

Deputies believe that one of the several dogs in the home may have bumped the wicker chair causing the shotgun to fall, the release said.

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5-year old girl killed, 3-year old boy wounded, by 17-year old brother in Alabama

Teela Anne Murphy, age 5

17-year old Christopher Tyler Smith decided to look through the scope of his loaded hunting rifle near his Fairhope, Alabama home.  Apparently unintentionally, he pulled the trigger.  The bullet hit his 5-year old sister, Teela Anne Murphy, as well as their 3-year old brother, Jayden L. Smith.

Teela later died from her wound.

From an article:

Fairhope police plan to file an assault charge in addition to manslaughter against a teen charged with killing his 5-year-old sister and wounding his 3-year-old brother Thursday night, officials said today.

Christopher Tyler Smith, 17, was arrested following the shooting of Teela Anne Murphy, a Fairhope Elementary kindergartner, and their brother, Jayden L. Smith, 3.

Jayden L. Smith, age 3

Shooter Christopher Tyler Smith, age 17

The two children were playing in the yard of a neighboring trailer when Smith fired a single shot from a .270-caliber hunting rifle that stuck both siblings, according to police.

Smith was released from the Baldwin County Corrections Center on $50,000 bail, according to jail records.

Smith was looking through the rifle’s scope near his own mobile home about 90 yards away from the children when the shot was fired, Sgt. Craig Sawyer said today. Police do not believe Smith intended to shoot the children, Sawyer said.

(a related news video and article)

(a related site)

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

UPDATE (5/11/12):  Jayden is recovering, and is now breathing on his own.

17-year old girl shot in head and killed by "warning shots" from men

Summer Moody, age 17

A 17-year old Mobile, Alabama girl, named Summer Moody, is fighting for her life after being shot in the head, on Gravine Island.  If she lives, she is likely to wind up in a vegetative state.

Summer was with three teen boys who are suspected of burglarizing fishing camps.  The group was shot at by men who shot "warning shots" at them, and one of those shots hit her.

From the article:

Stankoski said, “The last update I received is the prognosis is unchanged, which generally means a vegetative state or death are probably the only two outcomes following this.”

Stankoski said doctors discovered her injuries were more severe than originally diagnosed.
The attorney said Moody received a dangerous basilar skull fracture at the time the bullet entered the skull.

Stankoski said this skull fracture itself is potentially fatal.

The attorney said there are signs of infection at the site of the bullet wound, and it is being treated with antibiotics.

Stankoski said doctors are working to control the brain swelling.

The attorney said Moody is unresponsive and is breathing with the help of a ventilator.
Stankoski said three portions of her brain continue to bleed.
....
Moody was shot in the head early Sunday morning, April 15, while on Gravine Island with three other teens who are suspected of burglarizing several fishing camps.

Authorities said three men who were staying on the island fired warning shots at the teens and one of the bullets hit Moody. They have not been charged.

UPDATE (4/27/12):  Summer has now died from her injury.  Accounts of the incident vary between the three boys who survived and the two men who did the shooting:  http://blog.al.com/live/2012/04/attorney_for_burglary_defendan.html#incart_mce.

12-year old Alabama child finds father's unsecured gun and shoots himself in leg

A 12-year old in Mobile, Alabama, found his father's unsecured, loaded .357 magnum handgun in the closet and unintentionally shot himself in the leg.

From the article:

Mobile Police Department Cpl. Chris Levy said a 12-year-old was injured by an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg. The child's injury is non-life threatening.

Authorities said the .357 magnum handgun belonged to the child's father. No charges have been filed. Neighbors are thankful the child survived but say the incident is concerning.
....
Levy said the 12-year-old found the gun on the top shelf of a closet and was inspecting it when the gun discharged.

This is the third shooting of a child in that area in only three weeks:

This is the area's third shooting incident in the past two weeks, including one on Gravine Island that has left 17-year-old Summer Moody in critical condition after she was shot in the head on April 15.

On April 19, police said 17-year-old Christopher Smith shot his step-siblings in Fairhope while handling a high-powered rifle. In that incident , 5-year-old Teela Murphy was shot in the head and killed and a 3-year-old boy was wounded.

A gun salesman then offers safety advice:

Robert Logan of Robert's Gun Rack said, keeping a fire arm secure at all times should be a priority for gun owners.

Logan highly recommends placing firearms in a gun safe that requires a fingertip lock to open it up. Gunvault.com sells the unique safes that are specially made for this purpose.
He also suggests that if you don't know how to clean your gun, don't try. Take it to a professional to learn how.

Logan said to always unload your gun if you're handling it — even for a second — and keep your finger off the trigger unless you're ready to fire.

"You want to make sure you have it pointed in a safe direction. You don't want to point it at anybody, yourself or anybody you don't intend to hurt," said Logan.

Here's a better safety tip:  don't have a gun in the home with a child.


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

16-year old Wichita boy accidentally shoots himself in knee

A 16-year old boy was showing off his grandparent's gun when he shot himself in the knee.

From the article:

A 16-year-old boy who was trying to hide a gun he had just shown a friend was shot in the knee when the gun went off Sunday night, police say.

The incident occurred at about 5:40 p.m. Sunday in the 600 block of South Drury, which is southeast of Kellogg and Woodlawn, Lt. Doug Nolte said. The boy had shown the .38 revolver to an 18-year-old friend and was putting it back under his bed when the gun discharged.

The bullet passed through his right knee, and he was taken to a local hospital for treatment and released. There’s no indication the boy’s grandparents knew he had the gun, Nolte said.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2012/04/23/2307825/boy-16-accidentally-shoots-himself.html#storylink=cpy

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

12-year old boy brings gun to school in Florida

A 12-year old boy brought a gun to school in Boynton Beach, Florida.

From the article:

The Charter School of Boynton Beach was locked down this morning after a 12-year-old student was arrested on weapons charges for allegedly bringing a gun to school. He said he found a gun and "brought it to school to scare another student who he was having a disagreement with," according to Boynton Beach Police.

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

Ohio school bus with kids shot at with BB gun in drive-by

An Arts & College Preparatory Academy school bus had just left its school in Columbus, Ohio, laden with 23 students, when a white car drove up and shot at the bus with a BB gun.  Two bus windows were shattered, but no one was hurt, luckily.

From the article and video:

“We just heard the window shatter and nobody knew what happened,” a student, who was not named, said. “Then everybody started freaking out and moving to the other side of the bus.”

The students were transferred to another bus, and the bus that was shot was taken for investigation, 10TV News reported.

The bus driver reported seeing the BB gun shooter in a white car, Mallett reported.

One mother, who requested anonymity, had a message for the person who fired shots.

“The people who think it is okay to do these kinds of things, think,” the mother said. “Think before you act, because innocent people can be hurt. Thank God these children were okay.”

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Three kindergarten children shot when one brings a gun to Houston school

A kindergarten student at Betsy Ross Elementary School in Houston, Texas, brought a loaded handgun to school with him.  He was sitting down for lunch in the school cafeteria when it fell out of his pocket and discharged.

Three kindergarteners (2 boys and a girl, including a boy named Khoran Brown) were shot in their legs or feet.  One of those shot was the boy who brought the gun.

From the article:

Investigators said 25 kindergarten students were in the cafeteria for lunch when the gun fell out of the student's pocket and discharged about 10:20 a.m.

"By sitting at the cafeteria tables, they were one next to each other when it fell on the ground and it discharged. It grazed or hit some in the legs, lower parts (of the bodies)," said Sam Sarabia, a Houston Independent School District elementary education director.

HISD officials said three kindergarten students were injured by the bullet and bullet fragments.

Officials said a 6-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl were wounded in the foot and a 6-year-old boy was wounded in the leg. None of the injuries was life-threatening. All three were taken to Texas Children's Hospital for treatment. They remained hospitalized Tuesday afternoon.
"They're stable with minor injuries," said Dr. David Delemos with Texas Children's Hospital.

The student who took the gun to school was among those injured in the foot, HISD officials said.

(a related article with video)

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

Article: Data: Guns in school more often than most parents know

Here at Kid Shootings, we see news articles about kids bringing guns to school almost every day.

Here is an article about the problem in Washington state.  According to the article:

Students were expelled or suspended from a Washington state public school 45 times last year for bringing a handgun to class, according to new statewide data on weapons in school.

The guns were found in large and small districts, and rural and urban areas. The problem is nothing new for Washington state, according to the "Weapons In School Report: 2010-11 School Year."

Although state statistics on other weapons — from knives to shotguns — show a downward trend over the past decade, the numbers of handgun incidents have remained steady around 45 to 47 over the past 10 years.

School safety experts warn, however, that these school statistics, and recent incidents including the accidental shooting of a girl in a Bremerton classroom, give school officials just a glimpse of a bigger problem.

Thirteen years after the deadly rampage at Columbine High School in Colorado, guns are still a danger in Washington classrooms, although most are brought to school by children who have no plans to use them, experts say.

"We've had incidents of young children bringing them for show and tell for years," said Ron Stephens, whose Westlake Village, Calif., organization, National School Safety Center, helps school districts across the nation create safety plans, do bullying prevention and train staff.
Children who are caught with any weapon in school are either expelled or suspended, depending on the particular circumstances of the situation.

Here is a link to the report, "Weapons In School Report: 2010-11 School Year."

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

Two 14-year old Toledo boys charged for having gun at school

A 14-year old Toledo, Ohio boy brought a .40-caliber handgun to school, claiming he had been harassed by other kids.  A second 14-year old boy then tried to hide it for him.  Both were caught and charged with felonies.

From the article:

The student made no threats with the weapon, officials said, but told other students about it. A student relayed to a teacher that the classmate had the gun about 1 p.m., Assistant Superintendent Brian Murphy said, and that led to a search of a classroom. The student gave the gun to the second boy, who threw it into a rest room trash can, police said.

The mother of the second boy asked Magistrate Hutcheson over her own sobs not to incarcerate her son. "For the most part, he is a good child, who has been making some wrong choices, and he definitely knows this is a wrong choice. … If he is released, he will be with me or his dad," she said. She also said he is "not out in the streets after hours."

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

15-year old boy brings gun to school to "intimidate" another student over a girl

A 15-year old was caught with a gun and ammo at school in Temecula, California, which he had brought to intimidate another student, with home he had a feud over a girl.

From the article:

A fellow Temecula Valley High School student saw him showing off the gun at the Rancho Vista Road campus and alerted staff shortly before noon, said Lt. Mark Bostrom of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

A school resource officer and campus supervisor quickly found the 10th-grader and the gun, Principal Richard Lawrence wrote in a letter emailed to parents this afternoon. The boy was detained and no one was injured, school officials said.

The gun was not loaded, but the student had two bullets with him, Lawrence said.

“It appears the student brought the gun to school to intimidate another student who he got into an argument with, over a girl, earlier in the week,” Lawrence wrote.

Melanie Norton, spokeswoman for the Temecula Valley Unified School District, said the incident did not disrupt classes. It appears that only a small number of students saw the gun, she said. The 15-year-old was showing it to them, not threatening them with it, she said.

“He made an extremely poor decision,” Norton said. “It’s just very shocking. This isn’t something you would think would happen in Temecula.”

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

Arkansas teen found with stolen gun

A student in North Little Rock, Arkansas, was found with a stolen .38-caliber handgun at school.

From the article:

Students at North Little Rock's East Campus are back at school after a tip from a student leads police to a gun.

Thursday, officers found the .38 caliber handgun on a student. Officials were tipped off, thanks to a program on campus called "Crimestoppers."

The student who had the gun, said they found it in the parking lot and intended on throwing it in the Arkansas River.

Parents with students on campus were alerted to the gun being found through email, text and phone calls.

Police ran the serial number of the gun and it came back as stolen. The student is being charged as a juvenile.

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16-year old boy steals firearm in Wisconsin

A 16-year old boy was arrested for stealing a loaded firearm from a vehicle in Durand, Wisconsin.

From the article:

Durand Police say the gun was stolen from a vehicle around 8:30 Wednesday evening. Officers say the weapon was reportedly loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.

A witness told officers the gun was taken by a 16-year-old boy. Thursday, officers found him in a vehicle near an apartment complex.

He was taken in on charges of theft, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

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13-year old boy accidentally shot in face in Pacoima, California

A 13-year old boy was with other teens in a home in Pacoima, California, near Los Angeles, when a gun was unintentionally discharged, shooting him in the face.  He is now in critical condition.  It's unclear who pulled the trigger.

From the article and news video:

Los Angeles police were unable to confirm to The Times on Friday morning that someone was in custody, but Officer Rosario Herrera said: "We know it was an accidental discharge, but we don't know if it was a self-inflicted wound or if there's a suspect involved."

The shooting victim was rushed to the hospital after the incident Thursday in the 10000 block of Telfair Avenue. He was in listed in critical condition, Herrera said.

She said it was not clear whether the boy lived in the Pacoima home where the shooting occurred or if he was connected to the tenants.

KTLA-TV reported that one person was detained and two others fled on foot after the incident. The station also said the gun had not been located. City News Service also reported that a boy had been detained.

UPDATE (5/2/12):  On April 20, a boy was taken into custody, but no further information was revealed.

Guns found at Yorkville High School, New York

Two teens were found to have guns at school at Yorkville High School in Yorkville, New York.  One boy had a shotgun in his car, along with drugs.  Another had a pellet gun in his locker.

From the article:

Police used canine units to search the school, as part of a regular sweep of the school grounds. There had been no threats or incidents to prompt the search.

Police found one boy was in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The boy then indicated he also had a shotgun in a case in his pickup truck which was parked in the school’s lot. Police said the weapon was legally cased and stored, but it was against the law to bring it onto school grounds. The boy also had a pocketknife, police said. The boy was charged with unauthorized storage of a weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana possession, police said.

Police said a pellet gun was found in another student’s locker. That student was charged with unauthorized storage of a weapon and possession of ammunition without a Firearm Owner’s ID card, police said. Both students were taken to the Kendall County Jail.

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

Kid Shooting statistics for March 2012

Below are the statistics for shooting incidents involving children that we have posted in March here at Kid Shootings.  We fell behind a bit that month with all the reports coming in.

See our post for January statistics to see our comments on monthly statistics.  From those statistics, we estimate that our published cases represent around 19% of all cases in the U.S. for the month.

Caveat: The articles of gun crimes and shootings that we post mostly come from Google Alerts and keyword searches for very recent online news articles, and we have posted every single one that we could find, whatever the circumstances of it. But they don't represent every shooting out there. Some child-involved shootings and gun crimes simply don't get reported in the media, particularly suicides (which are, of course, very personal), accidental discharges which don't actually injure anyone, or incidents in small, rural areas. And not all that are reported online are filtered to us in a Google Alert. Every time we do a "deep dive" and investigate more thoroughly, other stories pop up, and we hear stories from local law enforcement officers, crime scene cleanup professionals, and school officials which never make it to the news. 

When you read the individual stories, see the pictures of the kids, understand the circumstances, the problem of guns in our society becomes more clear. The rhetoric of the pro-gun lobby takes on a hollow sound. More concealed guns on the streets wouldn't have stopped most of these, if any. Opposing Child Access Prevention laws seems barbaric. And the idea of having more guns in more hands is a glaringly deadly proposal.

Here are the statistics for our posts for March, 2012

Total number of gun crimes and shootings posted on: 129

Total number of children who were victims: 116 (see below; doesn't count intentional shooters)

Total number of children who were unintentional shooters (accidental): 15
Total number of children who were intentional shooters (doesn't count suicides or defensive): 15

Total children killed: 30

Total children injured: 65

Total non-injured (shot at but missed, kidnapped at gunpoint, etc): 24

Ages:

17: 23

16: 20

15: 18

14: 19

13: 11

12: 16

11: 10

10: 4

9: 2

8: 6

7: 2

6: 6

5: 5

4: 5

3: 2

2: 5

1: 0

0-1: 0

"teen": 7

"child": 17

Gender:

Boys: 110

Girls: 42

Unknown: 28

Status:

Victims: 116

Shooters: 33 (15 of which seemed intentional, 0 defensive, not counting suicides)

Types of shootings:

Homicide: 15

Attempted Homicide: 19

Accidental: 30

Suicide:  0

Attempted Suicide: 0

Threatened by gunmen but unharmed: 13

3 involved robberies

17 involved children "playing with" or handling unsecured guns

0 were from a dropped gun

2 were from gun owners "cleaning a gun" when the gun discharged

1 was a hunting accident

Stray Bullets: 14

On School Grounds: 29

School Shootings:  3

Clearly Gang-Related: 7

Drug-Related: 2

Defensive: 0

Law Enforcement: 1

Kidnapping: 0

Murder/Suicide: 3

Hostage: 1

Pellet / BB Gun-Related: 16 (9 of which on school grounds)

Toy Gun-Related: 0

Hunting-related:  1

1 involved a stolen gun

0 were Road Rage incidents

1 involved mental problems.

These numbers, as troubling as they are, are the real cost of our lax gun regulations, and children pay the price for it.

What are YOU going to do to reduce kid shootings?

News Video: Exploring Gun Safety

KBTC, a PBS station in Washington state, recently had a segment on their Northwest Now program, wherein they explore the potential for implementing a Child Access Protection law in their state (one of 22 states without such a law to mandate safe storage of guns in homes with children), the importance of gun safety education, and an interview with the Washington Ceasefire director.

Watch Gun Safety on PBS. See more from Northwest Now.

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10-year old Ohio boy brings BB gun to school to "fend off bullies"

A 10-year old boy was caught with a BB gun at an Elmwood Place, Ohio elementary school.

From the article:

Police say a 10-year-old Ohio boy told them he brought a BB gun to school to intimidate students who bullied him because he wears ankle braces and is small for his age.

The Cincinnati Enquirer ( http://bit.ly/d3rIUB ) reports he'll be charged in juvenile court with inducing panic for taking the BB gun to his elementary school Monday in suburban Elmwood Place.

Officer Leah Schindler says a principal reported Monday that a handful of students saw the weapon. Schindler says the children believed the gun was more powerful than a BB gun, and one said the boy threatened to fire it.

Schindler says the boy reported getting the gun from his mother.

The newspaper says the boy's mother didn't respond to an interview request, and school officials couldn't be reached for comment.

From a related article:

A 10 year old boy in Ohio has been charged with the delinquency count of inducing panic after bringing a BB gun to school to fend off bullies. He had been ‘stuffed in a trashcan’ the previous year and was being bullied about his small stature and ankle braces.

The police were called by the Elmwood Place Elementary School in Cincinnati, near the end of the school day after he received reports from at least five children that they had seen the boy with the gun. Police Sergeant Kevin Vanover noted that the plastic orange tip had been broken off to make the gun look more authentic.

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

Newscast: Keeping guns away from children

Keep guns away from children.  Lock them up.  Store the ammo separately.  ASK about guns where your children play.

A good newscast and article:

It's a question many parents ask themselves: How do you keep a gun close by for personal protection, but also keep it away from your kids? After another child dies accidentally shooting himself -- the issue is raising more concern.

4-year-old Jaylen Johnson found his mother's gun in her car Sunday, and accidentally shot himself in the head. 

With tragedies like Sunday's, some people are questioning whether parents can protect their children, and protect their homes and cars with guns. Experts at Lock and Load in Tyler say it is possible - especially with devices like a gun vault. All you do is type in the code, and your gun is quickly ready to use. 

"It's tragic," Robert Quates from Lock and Load said. "Gun safety is one of your top priorities if you're going to be in the market to buy a firearm, have a firearm."

Richard Bryan agrees -- he lives with his 10-year-old grandson.

"He's only 10 years old and he does have toy guns with the orange tip on them, however, a 10-year-old is a 10-year-old and 10-year-olds like to play with guns," he said. "I keep my gun in my safe."

A safe is a great option -- and there are plenty of kinds.   

"$32 for safety is a reasonable price," Quates said.

But if you don't want to pay for those, there are more simple options.

"If you don't have a way to lock your firearm up, keep your ammo separate," Quates said.
That way, if a child finds the gun he or she is safe from injury. 

It is a federal law to keep your gun locked and away from your children, and even something as inexpensive and simple as a cable lock for only $3, can keep your children safe and alive.
Experts also say if your child is going to a friend's house, you should ask the child's parents if they have firearms, and if they are locked safely away. 

The Tyler Police Department is investigating Sunday's case and soon those detectives plan to meet with the Smith County District Attorney's office.

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15-year old Chicago boy unintentionally shoots 6-year old girl during fight

A 15-year old boy was placing bets for his basketball game, in Chicago.  A dispute broke out, and the boy pulled out a handgun and started shooting.  He unintentionally his a 6-year old girl instead, grazing her right thigh.

From the article:

The 15-year-old boy was charged with one count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, according to a police News Affairs statement.

The teen was playing basketball with a group of boys April 12 in the Altgeld Gardens Playlot in the 13200 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue when there was a disagreement over a bet, police said. The boy pulled a handgun and began shooting — accidentally striking the girl.

She was taken to MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island about 7:10 p.m., News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala said. She suffered a graze wound to the right thigh and was treated and released.

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

Welding teacher at Virginia high school fires a firearm in class at students

Manuael Ernest Dillow, a 60-year old welding teacher at a vocational school in Abingdon, Virginia, lined up the 12 students in his class against a garage door in the shop where they were learning.  He then pulled out a realistic-looking "blank firing handgun" (starter pistol) and shot several times in their direction, terrorizing them, though none were injured.

From the article:

An investigation reportedly discovered Dillow "gathered" the attention of the 12 students in his welding class and lined them up near a garage door in the shop.

"He then pulled a 'blank firing handgun,' black in color, from the back waistband of his pants and discharged the weapon between four and ten shots in the direction of the line of the students," states a Wednesday afternoon press release. "The 'report' of the firearm was similar to that of a firearm that fires a projectile, thus placing the students in fear, according to statements. No students were physically injured as a result of the incident."

Dillow was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond with a hearing date scheduled for May 7.

UPDATE (4/23/12):  Not surprisingly, this teacher has been fired from his position.

Teen at Oakland High School brings "replica gun" to school

A teen boy was caught with a realistic "replica gun" at Oakland High School in Oakland, California. 

From the article:

A student at Oakland High School who brought a replica gun to school was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon, according to school district spokesman Troy Flint.

It was a parent who alerted the school administration to the apparent security threat. While dropping her child off at school in the morning, she noticed a boy showing what looked like a gun to three other students near the school, Flint said.

Hours later, after the student was identified, he was called out of class and taken to the main office. He denied possessing a gun, but a search revealed a fake weapon in his pant leg or boot. School district police took the teen into custody shortly after 1:30 p.m., Flint said.
....
This is the second weapons incident at the high school in a less than a month. In late March, a student was playing with a weapon he had brought to school when it discharged in his classroom; no one was hurt, but the bullet came close to hitting a classmates leg, according to reports made to the Oakland school district police.

"Replica gun" is often a term used for realistic BB or pellet guns, like Airsoft guns.

Father fatally shot while pushing 1-year old in stroller

A 24-year old father in Oakland, California, was pushing his 1-year old child in a stroller, returning from the store, when he was shot in the head and killed.  The child was unharmed.  The gunman fled the scene.

From the article:

Oakland police Sgt. Arturo Bautista said the child, who appeared to be about 1 year old, was unharmed and was quickly scooped up and taken to safety by a resident. A red and blue plastic race-car stroller sat a few feet away from the man's covered body.

Police said they were called to the area after Oakland housing authority officials heard shots fired about

3:15 p.m. They found the man slain in the Lockwood Gardens complex on the 6500 block of Eastlawn Street, near 65th Avenue.

Police said the victim is 24, and he is the father of the child he was pushing in the stroller.

Neighbors said they believed the baby is a girl, but officers could not confirm that Wednesday.

The man lives in the area and was returning from a store, police said. He was apparently shot in the head by someone who fled the area in a car.

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18-year old with Airsoft gun at elementary school causes school lockdown

West Main Elementary School in Ravena, Ohio, went into lockdown when an 18-year old young man was seen with a handgun.  Police arrived and found that the young man had a realistic Airsoft pellet gun tucked into his pants.  No excuse was given for why he had the gun with him, or why he had it on the grounds of the elementary school.

From the article:

The Ravenna Police Department took the man into custody within three minutes, Honkala said. Police discovered he was carrying a pellet gun.

Vincent A. Keen, 18, of Ravenna, was arrested and charged with inducing panic, illegal conveyance and trespassing, all misdemeanors, according to Ravenna police. A black-and-silver airsoft pellet gun, resembling a handgun, allegedly was found tucked into the waistband of Keen’s shorts.

Honkala praised police for the quick response. He said the first officer on scene immediately took control of the situation.

“We appreciate the responsiveness and the communication of the police,” Honkala said.
By the time the man was spotted and 911 was called, some of the students already had left for the day. Honkala said the school dismisses students who ride with their parents first, then students who walk to school. Last to leave are students who ride the bus.

Honkala said those students were lining up outside when the man was spotted. Teachers and administrators got the students back into the building and into lockdown.

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Teen fires BB or Pellet gun from school bus, shattering car window

A teen leaned out of a moving school bus in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and fired a BB or pellet gun, shattering the window of a parked car.

From the article:

Residents already upset over the recent violence in the city say shots fired from a BB gun Monday afternoon at Fifth and Woodbine Streets disturbed them even more because the shots came from a school bus.

Pellets from a BB gun pierced the window of a car at the corner. Police confirm a student riding a school bus with kids on board fired the gun as they rode from school Monday afternoon.

“I blame the school bus driver because you kept on going, you didn't have the decency to pull over, to see who did that,” stated a clearly frustrated Sharon Turner. “You heard the shots your self, everyone was running there were babies over there it just ain't safe.”

Sharon Turner says people grabbed there kids, they didn't know it was pellets at first.

“This is the first time, there's been a calm around here except what happened today it's shocking to me,” Turner added.

Shocking because of where it came from. The car’s owner who did not want to go on camera said a Harrisburg School Principal came to the scene to apologize.

Turner says her home already has bullets from real gunfire last summer. She wants Harrisburg Police to bring back beat cops to Fifth and Woodbine like they did in other parts of the city who walk the neighborhoods and get to know the residents.

“If you have that type of security up here people would think before they do things,” Turner concluded.

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

North Carolina 7th-grader found with loaded gun in middle school locker

A 7th-grade student at Community House Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina, was found with a loaded handgun in their locker.

From the article:

CMS officials say the loaded gun was found in the seventh-grader’s locker. The student was being questioned by police late Wednesday afternoon, and there was no word if charges had been filed.

After the school made automated calls to notify families, parent Anne Vail emailed the school board saying the incident should serve as a call to end the district’s “disregard and inattention” for the school. She cited crowding -- the school has almost 1,500 students -- and parent concerns about late school hours as the type of issues that district leaders ignore.

“Typically, the response from CMS to the expression of concerns from Community House families is one of disregard: we’re depicted as a school of ‘spoiled’ or ‘rich’ families that don’t have real problems deserving of district attention,” Vail wrote.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/04/17/2007561/loaded-gun-at-community-house.html#storylink=cpy

The boy had apparently stolen the gun from his grandfather.

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