8-year old Iowa boy shot in head at shooting range by 5-year old sister

An 8-year old boy, David Young, was at a shooting range with his father and 5-year old sister in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  His 5-year old sister was firing a .22-caliber rifle, apparently with supervision, when David walked across the firing line.  David was shot once in the head.

From an article:

Eight-year-old David Young suffered a gunshot wound to the head Monday while taking part in target practice at the Black Hawk Park gun range. A source close to the investigation confirmed with us -- the gun was in the hands of Young's five-year-old sister....."I'll guarantee you, some of those guys who had to be there beside me last night with that little boy laying on the range, went home with a little different perspective of the importance of guns and gun safety," said [County Sheriff] Thompson.

From a follow-up article:

The boy, 8-year-old David William Young, wandered across the firing line at one of the firearm ranges at Black Hawk Park at about 5:25 p.m. while a relative was practicing with a .22-caliber rifle. 

The child was shot once in the head at close range, deputies said. 

The boy was conscious and alert after the accident, and officials first thought it was a minor injury, almost a graze, with an entrance and exit wound, said Capt. Rick Abben with the sheriff’s office. 

Later, at Covenant Medical Center, doctors discovered a lump on another part of his head and suspected the bullet fragmented, and part of the projectile went deeper than first thought, Abben said. 

Young was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City and taken to the Brain Trauma Unit. His condition wasn’t available. 

Abben said he doesn’t expect any charges in the incident, but the case information will be forwarded to the county attorney’s office for review, which is standard procedure.

Kids and guns don't mix, particularly with young children, even with supervision.

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

4-year old Alaskan boy fires rifle from car, hitting hardware store

A 4-year old child in Wrangle, Alaska, was able to access a loaded 30-06 rifle in a car in a hardware store parking lot.  He discharged the gun, and the round hit the business, going through the wall and into racks of hardware before stopping.  Luckily, no one was injured.

From an article:

According to Wrangell Police Department Lieutenant Merlin Ehlers, officers responded to the store at approximately 1:30 p.m. after a single round was discharged from a vehicle parked in front of the business. Ehlers said a child who had been left unattended fired the round from what he called a “large caliber hunting rifle.” 

According to WPD chief Doug McCloskey, the child involved is 4 years old.
The bullet traveled through at least four inches of wood flooring, entered a box containing more than 30 feet of plastic bilge tubing and came to rest between three layers of cardboard. 

Police have not released the name of the driver of the vehicle, though McCloskey added that the department has referred the case to prosecutors for possible charges. 

Although the store was open for business and shoppers were inside there were no injuries reported.

The article didn't say whether an adult was present in the car at the time.

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

10-year old Maryland girl dies after discharging family gun

A 10-year old girl in Sanford, Maryland, got hold of a loaded gun an unintentionally discharged it, hitting herself.  She later died from the wound.

From an article:

A 10-year-old girl was fatally injured in what appeared to be an accidental shooting at a Saxis Road residence Thursday night.

The Accomack County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Eastern Shore 911 Center at 10:19 p.m. that a child had been shot at 23533 Saxis Road in Sanford.

Deputies when they arrived at the residence found the girl had sustained a gunshot wound to the body.

The victim was transported by ambulance to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md., where she was pronounced dead.

An autopsy is being conducted by the Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore, Md.

Officials did not release the victim’s name.

Godwin said investigation into the shooting is continuing but it appears to have been accidental.

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

Pellet gun and knives found in Stockton elementary school

A pellet gun was found in an 8th-grader's backpack, in a Stockton, California school, as well as knives in a 7th-grade classroom.

Additional security precautions are being put in place.

From an article and news video:

Cleveland Elementary School went on lock down to find a gun on campus Friday morning.

School district police said a group of young students told authorities they knew of a "big kid" who brought a gun to school. Police started searching 8th grade classes, where they found a plastic air pellet gun in a student's backpack; later, police searched 7th grade classes, where they found even more weapons.

"They went through our backpacks and they found a kid with two knives he was sitting on," 7th grade student Lucia Gomez said.

Just two weeks ago, a real gun was brought into Van Buren Elementary School by two 7th grade students. Stockton school district police said if children are going to be arming themselves, they're going to take stronger steps to keep those weapons out; starting with bringing in more metal detectors.

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

4-year old North Carolina child injured by father's rifle in motel

A man was staying in a Motel 6 motel room with his four children, in Greenville, North Carolina, with his loaded rifle under the edge of the bed.  That's when one of the children found the gun and discharged it.  The round hit his 4-year old child in the arm, breaking the bone there.

The child is expected to recover.  No charges have been filed.

From an article:

The incident happened at the motel on SE Greenville Boulevard at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.  Police found a 4-year-old shot through the right arm.  A rifle was recovered and secured.  There were four children and their father in the room.  According to police, the father thought the gun was unloaded and under the edge of the bed.  The injuries did break the child's arm, but the child should make a full recovery.  

Investigators are still looking into the investigation; no charges have been filed.

The article doesn't say why the man felt it necessary to have a rifle in the motel room with him and four children.

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

17-year old Houston boy shot, 15-year old brother threatened, by robbers

Daniel Delarosa, age 15

15-year old Daniel Delarosa, his 17-year old brother, and their mother, were about to step out of their home to go to school when three masked men with guns attacked.

The mother was threatened.  When the 17-year old tried to run inside, he was shot twice, in the chest and leg.

15-year old Daniel was in his room at the time and came out to see what had happened.  The robbers then forced him to show them the family safe, and threatened to shoot him as well, before fleeing.

Daniel and his mother were unharmed.  Daniel's brother is hospitalized but expected to survive.

From an article and news video:

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said three men confronted a woman as she walked out of her house in the 4800 block of Debeney Drive at 7 a.m. 

One of the men grabbed the woman and demanded money. Her 17-year-old son saw the men grab his mom and tried to run back in the house, investigators said. The men then kicked in the front door, shattering glass, and shot the 17-year-old in the chest and leg, officials said. 

"My brother closed the door and they just knocked it down, shot the door. So, he opened it and shot my brother," said Daniel Delarosa, 15. "He was trying to hit me with the gun, so I dodged and he hit the wall." 

Delarosa said the men threatened to kill his mother, so he took them to a safe in his mother's room. They stole money and jewelry from it. 

"I'm like, 'Don't kill my mom. Kill me first,'" he said. 

The 17-year-old was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital. His condition was not released, but he is expected to survive. 

The crooks fled the scene. 

"I seen them around before, like they looked familiar," Delarosa said. 

The mother was on her way to drop off her sons at school when the crime occurred. 

"I don't know why anybody would shoot him," a neighbor said.

.

16-year old California boy shoots and injures another juvenile during house party

A 16-year old boy shot and injured another child at a house party in Lathrop, California.

From an article:

The teenager, whose name is not being released, shot a juvenile during a house party in the 3500 block of Mars Court the evening of Oct. 13, according to the Tracy Police Department. The victim's injury was not life-threatening. Police arrested the suspect about 2:15 p.m. on Thursday. 

Detectives were able to piece together the teen's involvement in the case through witness statements and collected evidence, police said.

The article doesn't say how the boy was able to access a loaded gun.

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

Two boys, 12 and 14, shot in Chicago by stray bullets

Two boys, ages 12 and 14, were playing football outside their home in Chicago when a 19 year old young man, Walter White, opened fire at another person.  One of those shots hit the 12-year old in the groin.  Another shot hit the 14-year old, Raven Thompson, in the left leg and a major artery.  The leg may need to be amputated.

White was subsequently captured.

From an article:

Walter White, 19, also known as Lil’ Walt, was arrested and now faces two Class X felony counts of aggravated battery for allegedly shooting the boys, ages 12 and 14. 

Appearing in court Saturday with a private attorney, White was ordered held in lieu of $200,000 bail. 

Raven Thompson, 14, and the boy remain hospitalized after the shooting near 108th Street and South Eggleston. Thompson was shot near the abdomen, while the other boy was shot in the groin. 

Cassandra Thompson, the teen’s mother, says doctors are worried about his left leg and may amputate if his condition worsens. The freshman at Julian High School was considering playing basketball at the school, she said. 

“The bullet hit the main vein in the leg and they’re scared of clots,” Cassandra Thompson said. “They might have to take that left leg.”

Bullets don't know when to stop.

14-year old Georgia boy shot at high school football game

A football game had just ended at Banneker High School in College Park, Georgia, when a fight broke out.  Someone pulled out a gun and started shooting, wounding a 14-year old boy.

Another person besides the shooter also had a gun.

From an article:

Around 10:30 p.m., a large group of boys leaving the football game against Therrell High got into an altercation in the 6000 block of Feldwood Road, and someone pulled a gun and began shooting, Fulton County police spokeswoman Cpl. Kay Lester said. 

A 14-year-old was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, she said. 

Contrary to an earlier statement, the suspect is not in custody, she said. One person was arrested for having a weapon, but that person is not the shooter.

.

4-year old boy wounded and man killed in Detroit

A 4-year old boy and a 27-year old man were on a porch of a residence in Detroit, Michigan, when someone opened fire on them.  The boy was injured in the leg.  The man died from his wounds.

From an article:

Detroit police say a 4-year-old boy was one of four people shot when a group of men opened fire at a porch on the city's west side. 

Police spokeswoman Cassandra Lewis says all the victims were on the porch about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday when three men approached and started shooting. 

Lewis says a 27-year-old man was killed. She says the boy was shot in the leg and was listed Wednesday in stable condition at a hospital. 

Conditions of the other shooting victims weren't known Wednesday afternoon.
Lewis says police didn't make any immediate arrests.

.

14-year old Indiana boy brought stolen gun onto school bus

A 14-year old boy with gangster ties, in Portage, Indiana, was witnessed with a handgun on a school bus. The gun had been stolen from an 18-year old boy.

Another boy, age 12, had also been witnessed on the bus with a BB gun.

From an article:

The boy, who earlier in the week had been suspended from school and arrested on a possession of marijuana charge, is facing charges of dangerous possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor, and criminal gang activity, a felony.

According to police, School Resource Officer Greg Coleman received information Monday from a student that the student saw two other students on the school bus the previous week with handguns. During his investigation, Coleman contacted one of the students, a 12-year-old, who admitted possessing a BB gun last week at school. The student led Coleman to the BB gun, which he had hidden outside of his home. He was expelled from school.

The student then told Coleman that a second student had a real handgun.

On Wednesday that student was identified and Coleman made contact with the 14-year-old boy's mother, who gave Coleman and fellow School Resource Officer Mike Candiano permission to search her home. Officers located a handgun between the mattresses of the boy's bed.

The boy was brought by his mother to police for questioning and allegedly told police he had stolen the handgun two weeks ago from an 18-year-old friend in Gary. The boy also allegedly told police he was actively involved with the Gangster Disciples and their gang activity. He was arrested and transported to the juvenile detention center.

Note that the boy who brought the real gun onto school property is charged only with a misdemeanor for that offense, but a felony for having gang association.

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

4-year-old shoots self while playing with gun

A 4-year-old Dayton, Ohio boy found an unlocked, loaded gun and unintentionally shot himself in the leg.

From an article:

The grandfather was in charge of watching the boy.  He was cited on a charge of child endangerment.

Children Services was called to the home and took custody of a second child in the home.

Police said the child was removed because of the lack of supervision, but also because of the deplorable conditions found in the home.

3-year old Washington boy unintentionally injured with gun in car

A 3-year old boy was riding in a car in Sunnyside, Washington, when he was unintentionally injured by a gun.

From an article:

A 3-year-old boy was critically injured when a firearm discharged in the vehicle he was riding in Monday night, Sunnyside police say. 

He’s being treated at Harborview Medical Center for a gunshot to the head. 

The boy, who was not identified, arrived at Sunnyside Community Hospital about 9:30 p.m. Monday, according to a news release from the Sunnyside Police Department. 

Officers say they believe the gun accidently discharged when the vehicle was in the area of Yakima Valley Highway and East Edison Avenue. 

The vehicle and the gun were seized, but police did not immediately release more information about the circumstances. They said they are continuing to investigate. 

Specifics on who fired the gun were not given in the article.

16-year old Oregon boy fires gun in public park

A fight took place among youths in Springfield, Oregon, at Meadow Park.  That's when one boy pulled out a stolen handgun and fired shots.  Luckily no one was injured.

The boy was arrested.

From an article:

A 16-year-old boy faces charges alleging he fired several shots from a stolen gun during a fight on Monday afternoon in Springfield’s Meadow Park. 

Springfield police were called to investigate the incident just after 3:30 p.m. Monday. As many as 10 people from two separate groups may have been involved in the incident, police Sgt. David Lewis said. 

No one was struck by any gunfire, and no property damage was reported, Lewis said.

The article doesn't say how or where the gun was stolen.

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

17-year old Chicago boy injured when fighting over gun with felon father

53-year old Charles Johnson, a convicted felon living in Chicago, Illinois, nonetheless had a .38-caliber handgun hidden in his garage, but it went missing.  When he found it months later in the possession of his 17-year old son, the two fought over it, and the boy was shot in the mouth.  He is now in critical condition.

From an article:

Charles Johnson of the 1300 block of West Estes Avenue was charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, possession of a firearm, police said. 

Johnson had hidden his gun in the garage but noticed that the weapon had disappeared about six months ago, according to a police report. When Johnson saw his .38 caliber gun on his son's desk, he confronted him and the two began to argue, according to police. 

When the boy picked up the gun, Johnson tried to wrestle the gun away from him and during the struggle, the gun discharged, striking the 17-year-old, according to the report. 

Police found the boy in a bedroom lying on a couch with a gunshot wound to his right cheek. They found the gun lying on the floor. 

Chicago Fire Department paramedics took the boy to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition, according to Fire Media information. 

Johnson was scheduled to appear in Bond Court this afternoon.

There was no mention of how Johnson came in possession of his illegal gun, if he would be charged for the shooting, or if he would be charged with allowing his gun to get into the hands of his son.

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

15-year old Georgia boy brings gun to school

A 15-year old boy brought an unloaded 9mm handgun to his Gresham Park, Georgia high school.

According to an article:

NcNair [sic] High School was put on lockdown Monday morning after a gun was found in a student’s possession. 

Channel 2 Action News reported that a 15-year-old student brought an unloaded 9mm handgun to the school on Bouldercrest Road in south DeKalb County. 

The student, whose name has not been released, was arrested. 

According to Channel 2, the student was already on suspension when he came to school with the gun, but it was not immediately clear if it was an in-school suspension or he supposed to be out of school. 

The lockdown was lifted by late Monday morning. 

The article doesn't say where the boy got the gun.

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

9-year old Pennsylvania girl shot and injured when mistaken as a skunk

A 9-year old girl in Freedom, Pennsylvania, had been at a Halloween party, dressed as a skunk, when one of her relatives mistook her for the real animal and shot her with a shotgun.

From an article:

New Sewickley Township police say the girl was over a hillside and wearing a black costume and a black hat with a white tassel. 

Chief Ronald Leindecker says a male relative mistook her for a skunk and fired a shotgun, hitting her in the shoulder Saturday night. 

Leindecker tells the Beaver County Times that the girl was alert and talking when she was flown to a hospital in Pittsburgh, about 30 miles away. Her condition was unavailable. 

Leindecker says the man hadn't been drinking and he doesn't know whether charges will be filed.

UPDATE (5/8/13):  The shooter, Thomas Grant, was charged only two misdemeanor charges — simple assault and reckless endangerment.  

He has now pleaded guilty to those charges:

Thomas Edward Grant, 25, of 35 Lightcap Lane, Jackson Center, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment. 

A charge of aggravated assault was dismissed in February after a judge agreed with a defense motion claiming there was “proof of malice” on Grant’s part to support the felony charge. 

Beaver County Judge Harry Knafelc sentenced Grant to serve two years’ probation and to pay restitution to the victim’s family. Grant’s hunting privileges have also been revoked during his probation. ... 

Valsamidis characterized the shooting as a “tragic accident.” He said Grant underwent toxicology tests the night of the shooting and had no drugs or alcohol in his system. 

After the shooting, the girl was flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh and underwent surgery for injuries to her spine and numerous internal organs as a result of the birdshot wounds, according to the police report. Police never released the girl’s name. 

Valsamidis said the child was hit with about 100 bird shots and is still under medical supervision including regular testing for lead poisoning. She could still require surgery to have some of the pellets removed, he said.

Though he has to pay restitution, and has had his hunting license revoked, these are only misdemeanor charges, which means that Mr. Grant gets to keep his guns.

14-year old Louisiana boy brings loaded gun and knife to school

A 14-year old boy in Ponchatoula, Lousiana, was caught with a loaded gun and a knife at school.

From an article:

"A 14 year old male student was found in possession of a loaded handgun and knife," Ponchatoula Police Sgt. Mark Perrin said in a news release.  "The Ponchatoula Police Department arrived on scene at PJHS and took the juvenile into custody and took possession of the weapons." 

Perrin says school officials discovered the weapons. 

"The administration at PJHS informed officers that an anonymous tip led to the discovery of the weapons just after school let in this morning." 

The juvenile was booked into Florida Parish Juvenile Detention Center.

The article didn't say where he got the gun.

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

9-year old Texas boy brings gun and ammo to school

A 9-year old boy in Nederland, Texas, brought a semi-auto pistol and ammo to school in his backpack, which he got out of his mother's night stand, in order to "teach his friend to shoot."

From an article:

Teachers at Hillcrest Elementary became suspicious of the nine-year-old who kept checking his backpack, Asst. Chief with Nederland Police Gary Porter said. 

When one of the teachers searched the backpack at around 3 p.m., she found an unloaded Taurus 380 semi-automatic pistol and a gun case with bullets in it, Porter said. 

The student told authorities he took the gun from his mother's night stand and brought it to school to teach his friend how to shoot, Porter said. 

The student was disciplined according to the state and school district guidelines, Superintendent of the school district Robert E. Madding said.

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

14-year old Connecticut boy brings Airsoft pellet gun to school

A 14-year old boy was caught on the school bus showing off a realistic-looking Airsoft pellet gun that he was bringing to school.

From an article:

Police said a 14-year-old boy was showing off a fake firearm. They described it as an airsoft style pistol. 

Students said he painted it black. 

"He pretended that it was a real gun and some people were a little scared, but then they found out later it was a fake gun, so the worry kinda subsided," Gardner said. 

"Like I wouldn't know if it was a real gun or not, so I would probably stay silent, but props to the kid who told his parents," Leichgman said. 

Students say police greeted the freshman at school after some quick thinking of a fellow student who texted his parents of when he saw the unloaded weapon. 

It's situation students say they're taught how to react to. 

"Throughout the year we have lock-downs, just once every couple of months, and just so we know how to handle it and what to do," Jablonski said. 

The child is charged with Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds, Carrying a facsimile firearm, and Breach of Peace.

As we have demonstrated here at Kid Shootings, pellet guns and BB guns, particularly realistic-looking Airsoft guns, have been used to intimidate, rob, injure, and even kill, including in schools.  These are not toys.

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

7-month old Waco boy shot in head in drive-by

Dmar E. Caufield, age 7 months.

A 24-year old man is accused of a drive-by shooting into a home in Waco, Texas.  The shots his a 7-month old boy, Dmar E. Caufield, in the head, critically injuring him.  The boy's uncle was also wounded.  Two other children, and other adults, were also present in the home at the time of the shooting.

From an article:

Samuel Henry Jr., 24, is charged with causing serious bodily injury to a child, a first-degree felony, in the Oct. 10 attack on the home at 1609 N. 18th St., after witnesses identified Henry as the shooter, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said. 

The assault critically injured baby Dmar E. Caufield, who was thought to be “somewhat improving” Thursday, Swanton said. 

The shooting also caused minor injuries to the child’s 38-year-old uncle, Craig Mays, who suffered some shrapnel wounds to the arm and was treated and released from a local hospital that day. 

From the beginning, officials suspected the early-morning shooting into the front of the home was a targeted assault, although it was not clear who the intended victim was, Swanton said. 

Six people were inside at the time — the baby and his uncle, as well as the baby’s mother and father and two other children. 

Swanton declined to comment about several details of the investigation, including what detectives think was the motive or the relationship between Henry and the family.
....
After the shooting, Dmar was taken to Scott & White Hospital in Temple, where he underwent emergency surgery and was in stable but critical condition on a ventilator.

(a related article with photo)
.

15-year old Boston boy charged with shooting death

A 15-year old boy, Raymond M. Concepcion, in Boston, Massachussetts has been charged with shooting and killing a man in another vehicle.

From an article:

The incident started at 6:44 p.m. when, according to witnesses, a male got out of a vehicle stopped in traffic near 85 Southampton St., walked up to a car that was also stopped in traffic about two or three cars ahead, and fired into that vehicle. 

The gunman then returned to the car and got in the back seat. According to Suffolk prosecutor Jennifer Hickman, Hill was driving and Johnson was in the front passenger’s seat. 

A Boston police detective was nearby and heard the gunfire. The detective, in his cruiser, pursued the suspects’ vehicle, and had managed to trap it in traffic momentarily, before cars ahead moved and the suspects’ vehicle took off. 

A state trooper then started pursuing the vehicle and stopped it on the Southeast Expressway near the Columbia Road off-ramp. The three suspects were taken into custody at gunpoint.

The article didn't say where the boy got the gun.

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

Sixth-grade Virginia boy brings gun and ammo to school

A 6th-grade boy in Abington, Virginia, was caught with an unloaded gun, ammunition, and knife at school.

From an article:

Media outlets report that the boy has been suspended from Damascus Middle School. He was assigned to a home electronic monitoring system during a hearing Tuesday in Washington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. 

School and court authorities say the boy is accused of bringing an unloaded .22-caliber pistol, a knife and several rounds of ammunition to the school Monday morning. He didn't make any threats to anyone at the school. 

Another student saw the ammunition and told a teacher.

The article didn't say if the parents would be held accountable.

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

12-year old Maryland boy unintentionally shoots father

A 12-year old boy was with his father in Frederick, Maryland, shooting at roosters on their property.  The boy fired a round, but it hit a truck and ricocheted  hitting his father in the chest.  The man is now in the hospital being treated.

No charges are being filed.

From an article:

The boy and his father, a 48-year-old Frederick resident, were outside at the farm, where the boy was shooting a .22-caliber rifle, said Cpl. Jennifer Bailey, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office. 

“What they were shooting at were Bantam roosters, which were very aggressive on the property,” Bailey said. 

The father was struck when one of the bullets ricocheted off a truck and hit him in the chest, she said. 

The man was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he continues to be treated, she said.

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

12-year old Oklahoma girl shoots home invader

In a rare example of justified defense by a child, a 12-year old girl was alone in her Bryan County, Oklahoma home when a stranger rang the doorbell, then went around back and kicked in the back door.  She called her mom, then with her mom's advise, took the family gun and hid in a closet, calling 911.  When the intruder started to open the door to the room, she shot through the door, wounding him before he fled.  The intruder was captured by police just down the road.

News video.

4 year old killed in California shooting and several other children injured

Jimenez family

This story about a shooting in California is almost too awful to read:

A father and his 4-year-old son were killed and a woman and two other young children were wounded by a gunman wearing a painter's mask who set fire to their home near Los Angeles early Saturday, authorities said.

Inglewood Police Chief Mark Fronterotta told KABC-TV that a SWAT team set up a perimeter and was using dogs to search for the attacker, who may have lived in a rear house on the property. Investigators were trying to determine whether the suspect fled or remained in the house as it burned.

Small children should not die from bullets for any reason.


UPDATE (10/22/12):  In addition to the death of the 4-year old, a 7-year old girl was shot in the chest and is in critical condition, and a 6-year old boy was shot and injured in the pelvis, but is now released from the hospital.  The father was shot and killed while protecting his children.  The mother was shot and injured, and escaped with the 4-year old, who later died.

The shooter, who went on the rampage after getting an eviction notice and blaming the victims, wore a painter's mask and wore a bulletproof vest.  The shooter then killed himself after setting fire to the home.  From a follow-up article:

Police suspect that Moses indiscriminately opened fire on the family who rented a bungalow on the same property, blaming them for an eviction notice he had received from their landlord. 

The family had called police several times asking them to conduct a welfare check after becoming concerned about Moses' increasing isolation and odd behavior, a relative said. The landlord said he had obtained an eviction order Tuesday that gave the man 15 days to move out. 

Moses allegedly attacked the family around 4 a.m. Saturday while wearing a painter's mask, according to witnesses. Neighbors were jolted awake by the gunfire. 

Filimon Lamas and his wife, Gloria Jimenez, tried to protect their four children, authorities said. Lamas was found slumped over three of them; Jimenez, despite being shot in both legs and her pelvis, jumped a fence and ran from the home cradling their 4-year-old son, who had been shot in the head. 

Lamas, 30, and the 4-year-old later died. On Sunday, Jimenez, 28, remained in stable condition at UCLA Medical Center. The couple's 7-year-old daughter, shot in the chest, was "critical but stable," police said. 

Their 6-year-old son, shot in the pelvis, was released from the hospital Sunday and was resting with family members, a relative said. Their 8-year-old son was not hurt in the attack. 

Shortly after the shooting rampage Saturday, Moses' home was in flames. Authorities have said they believe he set it on fire. 

Jimenez had worried that Moses was "not all there," her brother Jaime said. He said Moses grunted when the family greeted him and complained when the children played in the yard between their houses. Neighbors said Moses appeared to have no friends or family and had not paid rent in years. 

Online records from the California Department of Consumer Affairs show that Moses has held a "guard/patrolperson registration" since 1984. He appears to have kept up with the renewal process, as the registration was valid through August 2013. 

A spokesman said security guard registrations require renewal every two years. New applicants are fingerprinted and run through an FBI and state Department of Justice database. That does not happen when the license is renewed, the spokesman said.

(a related article, with family photo and statement from mother thanking those who are supporting them).

American Academy of Pediatrics Renews Commitment to Preventing Gun Injuries in Children

Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement, renewing its call for removing guns from homes with children, or at least storing them locked and unloaded in homes with children.

The statement, here quoted in full:

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is renewing its call to reduce the destructive effects of guns in the lives of children and adolescents, including counseling parents about safe gun storage as well as supporting legislation to prevent firearm injuries and deaths.

According to the AAP, the safest home for children and teens is one without guns. If there are guns in the home, scientific evidence shows the risk of injury or death is greatly reduced when they are stored unloaded and locked, with the ammunition locked in a separate place. Pediatricians routinely offer this injury-prevention counseling as part of their guidance to families at health care visits.

“Firearm injuries are often fatal – there are few second chances,” said Marion Burton, MD, FAAP, immediate past president of the AAP. “Young children are curious, and are often unable to remember or follow safety rules. Older children and teens naturally tend to be moody and impulsive. When you combine these traits with access to guns, the consequences can be tragic and permanent.”

The policy statement, “Firearm-Related Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population,” will be published online in Pediatrics Thursday, Oct. 18 in advance of the AAP National Conference and Exhibition Oct. 20-23 in New Orleans. The policy will appear in the November 2012 print issue of Pediatrics. The statement updates a previous policy statement published in 2000.

While the rate of firearm-related deaths has declined over the past two decades, it is still one of the top three causes of death in American youth, far exceeding the rates in other high-income countries. An estimated 38 percent of American households own guns; in gun-owning households with children under age 18, many of those guns are stored loaded and/or unlocked. The presence of guns in the home increases the risk of death from suicide or homicide.

Strong scientific evidence suggests that the presence of a gun in the home of an adolescent increases the risk of suicide, even in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis, said pediatrician Denise Dowd, MD, FAAP, one of the lead authors of the statement who will be discussing the recommendations in a session at the AAP meeting in New Orleans Oct. 20. 

“Adolescents often experience very strong emotions and have difficulty seeing past a temporary setback,” Dr. Dowd said. “Their brains have not matured fully, which makes them impulsive, and relatively more likely to attempt suicide. When those attempts are made with a gun, there is little chance for them to change their minds. The odds of suicide are particularly high if the gun is kept loaded. It is absolutely critical that families who own guns follow safe-storage practices.”

Firearm-related injuries and deaths can be prevented when guns are stored safely away from children and adolescents in a locked case. Because of the severe, permanent nature of gun injuries in children, the AAP supports the strongest-possible legislative and regulatory approaches to reduce the accessibility of guns to children and adolescents:

• Consumer product regulations regarding child access, safety and design of guns
• Child access prevention laws that enforce safe storage practices including the use of trigger locks, lock boxes, and gun safes
• Regulation of the purchase of guns, including mandatory waiting periods, closure of the gun show loophole, mental health restrictions for gun purchases, and background checks
• Restoration of the ban on the sale of assault weapons to the general public 

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

15-year old Tennessee boy and ROTC cadet unintentionally shot to death by 18-year old brother

A 15-year old boy in Lexington, Tennessee, was home with his 18-year old brother.  The older brother was cleaning his gun when it unintentionally discharged, shooting the boy to death.

From an article:

Officials tell us the 15-year-old was at home with his 18-year-old brother Monday. The older brother was reportedly cleaning a handgun when it fired and killed the younger teen. 

Since the 18-year-old is not a suspect, police are not releasing his name. They are still investigating the case and are calling it an accident at this point. 

The teenager who was killed was a freshman at Lexington High School. Even though it is known who he is, WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News has chosen not to release his name until all next of kin have been contacted. Teachers say the 15-year-old was well rounded and showed high potential. He was involved in the high school band and ROTC. 

"He was our Cadet of the month for this month so he had already been recognized in that award, that honor. He got his first promotion in ROTC about a week ago," said ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Mike Goolsby.

The boy was an accomplished ROTC cadet.  Apparently gun safety training was not enough to keep him from being shot.

3 year old Ohio boy shot in domestic shooting

Jorge Duran III, age 3

Yet another toddler has been shot. This time, an Ohio man shot the toddler and others in a shooting spree in an apartment building. From an article:

A man fatally shot his estranged girlfriend and their 3-year-old son and wounded three others at a suburban Toledo apartment complex before he fired at officers and was shot to death, a police chief said Wednesday.

Lake Township Police Chief Mark Hummer identified the gunman in Tuesday night's shootings as 24-year-old Jorge A. Duran II.

Duran killed his estranged girlfriend, Amber Jones, 26, in one apartment, then took their 3-year-old son, Jorge III, to another apartment in the complex, where he shot the child and wounded three other adults, Hummer said.

Duran came outside into the parking lot and fired at two Lake Township police officers who had responded to the call at about 9:40 p.m., Hummer said. One of the officers was SWAT-trained and fired back at Duran with an assault rifle.

"They ordered (Duran) to get to down on the ground. He refused to comply and then he opened fire," Hummer said. "They returned fire, mortally wounding the suspect."

Hummer said he didn't know how many shots were fired or how many times Duran was hit. Neither officer was hurt.

The wounded in the second apartment included a 45-year-old woman, a 39-year-old man and a 26-year-old man. Hummer said two of them were hospitalized in serious condition and one was in guarded condition. Their names were not released.

This was another domestic shooting as happen many times a week in our country. Children are often also injured or hurt when a man decides to shoot a girlfriend, partner or wife.

UPDATE (10/20/12):  According to another article, the shooter purchased his gun only an hour before the shooting, passing a background check.

Chief Mark Hummer tells WNWO news, Jorge Duran, Jr. purchased the gun he used about an hour before the murders. 

Chief Hummer says its unsettling that Duran was able to get the gun that easily at the Bass Pro Shops in Rossford because he had no criminal record, "Is it a little disconcerting that a gun was this easily procured legally prior to an event like this? So yes, obviously, there's going to be some concern there." 

Bass Pro Shops says in addition to background checks if their employees feel suspicious about a gun buyer, they'll reject the application. 

Despite those measures - there's no state law requiring tougher standards.

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15-year old Alabama boy shot in head during prank

Jesse Rainey, age 15

A 15-year old boy, Jesse Rainey, was with a group of six other male teen friends at an empty home in Tuscumbia, Alabama, after a football game.  Some of the boys cut the lights and went back inside, pretending to be intruders.  The 15-year old boy jumped out of a closet, but the other boy shot him in the head with a .38-caliber handgun.  The boy is now fighting for his life in the hospital.

No charges will be filed.

From an article:

Jesse Rainey, 15, went with seven male friends early Saturday to an unoccupied Tuscumbia home belonging to the grandmother of one of the boys, according to ABCNews.com. They decided to spend the night there after a football game. 

“One of the young men cut the lights to the house, then a few of the other guys snuck back inside, wanting their friends to believe there was an intruder,” Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May told ABC News. 

Rainey reportedly hid in one of the closets, and decided to jump out and scare one of his friends. Authorities say the other boy, who was carrying a .38 caliber handgun, was spooked and fired at Rainey. 

The incident happened around 3:30 a.m., and the friends drove Rainey to a store parking lot 10 minutes away to meet an ambulance, according to Fox 40 in Jackson, Miss.

(a related article)

The article did not say where the boy got the loaded gun.

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

4-year old boy injured at Mississippi gun show

A 4-year old boy was attending a gun show in Tupelo, Mississippi, when a gun was unintentionally discharged.  The round went through a wall.  The boy was injured by bullet fragments, and a man was injured in the leg.

No charges expected.

From an article:

The child was hit by fragments from a bullet that went through a wall. Also, a man was grazed in the leg in the same accident. 

Tupelo Police say both were treated at North Mississippi Medical Center. Neither suffered life threatening injuries. 

A preliminary investigation indicated it was an accident and no charges are expected. 

The incident is still under investigation.

Why would someone bring a 4-year old to a gun show?

16-month old boy injured by drive-by stray bullet in Connecticut

Tramire Miller, age 16-months

16-year old Tramire Miller was shot and injured in the abdomen while sitting outside his home in New Haven, Connecticut, by an apparent stray bullet.

From an article:

A stray bullet hit Tramire Miller in the abdomen while he was sitting with family on the front stoop of a home on Kensington St. on October 10.  

He was rushed to surgery and has since been released from the hospital. 

Police said they believe the two suspects are members or associates of the Grape Street Crips based in New Haven and the shooting stemmed from a feud with a rival gang.
Tramire's father, Timothy Miller, said he does not believe his son was targeted, but does not feel safe in his neighborhood. 

“I think he was just caught in the middle of a cross-fire that anybody could've gotten hit,” Timothy Miller said. "I'm not comfortable now, letting him out of my sight. It's serious." 

Police have also seized two guns that were allegedly fired during the drive-by. 

New Haven Police said that they expect to make more arrests in connection with this incident.

A related article and video, with more details on the shooting and gang members who did the shooting.

Bullets don't know when to stop.

17-year old Chicago boy shot and killed in gang shooting

Miles Turner, 18 (left) and Richard Modell, 17 (right)

17-year old Richard Modell was walking with his 18-year old cousin, Miles Turner, on the streets of Chicago, Illinois, when gunmen opened fire in an apparent gang retaliation.  Richard was killed.  Miles was shot multiple times in the legs and is in critical condition.

From an article:

Richard Modell, 17, and his cousin Miles Turner, 18, were on their way to meet a friend at the time. Modell may have been targeted due to a fight between rival gangs, authorities believe. 

Turner, a high school football player, was shot in the legs multiple times and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, according to The Sun Times.  Police don't believe he had any gang ties.  

“Miles [is] really a very well-liked guy… He is the kind of kid who went out of his way to be friendly and polite. He even went out of his way to say hello to the ladies in the office,” Dan McGrath, the president of Turner’s high school, told the newspaper. 

The teens were among the youngest shot over the weekend. Since Friday, five people have been killed and at least 25 wounded in separate shootings across the city. Some are gang related, but many just innocent people caught in the cross fire. 

Modell is the second grandchild of Florine Monroe to be shot and killed within just six months. The other grandchild was not identified by NBCChicago.com. 

"They've got to get these guns out of young people's hands," she said. 

(a related article, about Miles Turner and the shooting).

12-year old Oklahoma boy injured in drive-by, as 11-year old brother saves him

11-year old John Jordan (left) and his 12-year old brother (rt)

Three boys were getting ready to play games in their Oklahoma City home when shots came through the walls from outside.  One boy, age 12, was injured in the foot.  His 11-year old brother, John Jordan, then pushed him to the floor, likely saving his life.

From an article and news video:

The 12-year-old boy was hit in the foot, but it could have been much worse. Police said somebody shot several times into an apartment complex Wednesday night on Lyrewood Lane near Wilshire Boulevard and Rockwell Avenue. 

The boy did not want to speak on camera, but KOCO Eyewitness News 5's Michael Seiden talked to his brother. John Jordan pointed out where bullet holes dotted his bedroom wall, ceiling and bathroom. 

"We were in a room getting ready to play some games, and we heard two shots. At first, we didn't know what it was," Jordan said. 

Jordan added that he and two of his brothers were in the bedroom when they heard at least five shots in all, one of which struck his brother in the foot. Jordan's brother will miss the rest of his middle school football season while he recovers from his injuries. 

"We thought my big brother was joking when he said he got hit in the foot," Jordan said. "My little brother almost got hit, but I picked him up and threw him on the floor so he wouldn't get hit."

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15-year old Texas girl critically injured by 10-year old brother, who then fatally shot himself

10-year old Coby Tucker was at home with his mother an sister in Bedias, Texas, just west of Huntsville, when he accessed a loaded, unsecured handgun.  He then went into the room of his 15-year old sister, Ashley Tucker, and fired at her multiple times.  He then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.

Ashley is in the hospital in good condition.

From an article and news video:

Investigators have not said how Coby got the gun, but they did say that the family has a gun safe in the home. The motive for the shooting is under investigation. 

Deputies said the children's mother was at home at the time of the shooting but was apparently unaware that her son had a gun. 

"Once she heard the shots, she responded and called 911," Detective Greg Williams said. 

The children's father was at work at the time of the incident, investigators said. 

Officials have not said if the parents will face any charges.

From another article:

After investigating the crime scene, deputies said they believe that Coby Tucker got access to the handgun from a locked safe in the home. No charges have been filed in the shooting. 

“There is no reason for us to believe that this was a case of negligence by the parents,” Walker County Sheriff Clint McRae said. “The firearm was in a secure safe, but the boy was somehow able to gain access. This is a terrible tragedy that happened and our thoughts are with the family.”

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

3-year old Oklahoma boy wounded in leg when finds loaded, unsecured gun

A 3-year old boy was in the care of his grandmother's boyfriend when he found the man's .22-caliber handgun and shot himself in the leg.  He is in the hospital in serious condition.

From an article:

Emergency responders were called to the 4100 block of East 1st Street at about 12:30 p.m. and found a 3-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the lower leg. 

They say the child was in the care of his grandmother when the injury occurred. Her boyfriend had a .22-caliber revolver at the home, according to Corporal Ron Clark with the Tulsa Police Department. 

"Her boyfriend was in a room with the child at the back of the residence," Corporal Clark said at the scene. "We believe it was an accidental discharge of a handgun." 

The boyfriend told officers that he bought the revolver at a Tulsa flea market last weekend and did not believe it was operable. 

"It's a lesson to be learned," Clark said.

The lesson to be learned is that guns and children don't mix.

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

11-year old Mississippi boy killed in murder/suicide by mentally ill father

Andrew Loyd, age 11

11-year old Andrew Loyd was shot three times by his father, Billy Loyd, Jr., in his home in Farmington Mississippi, before the father shot and killed himself.  Andrew later died in the hospital.

Six months ago, Andrew was held hostage, at gunpoint, by his father during a police standoff.  Billy Loyd had also served time in a mental institution.

Why, then, was the father allowed to own guns, and why was Andrew allowed to be anywhere near his father.

The father was also having economic problems.

A news video.

From an article:

Authorities say Loyd had posted on Facebook that he was in financial trouble, feared he would be evicted and his son taken from him. Loyd left funeral instructions and asked any reader to contact authorities.

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16-year old Iowa boy dead after 15-year old friend finds gun and fires it unintentionally

Corey L. Hamilton, Jr., age 16

Two boys, 16-year old Corey L. Hamilton Jr., and his friend, 15-year old Dontavius Sharkey, found a loaded, unsecured handgun in an apartment in Des Moines, Iowa.  That's when Dontavius unintentionally fired the gun, hitting Corey in the face.  Corey later died from his wound.

Dontavius initially tried to hide the gun, but later admitted to the shooting.

From an article:

Des Moines police responded to 1444 E. Walnut St. after a report of a person being shot. Authorities found Corey L. Hamilton Jr., 16, with a gunshot wound to his head. 

Medics from the Des Moines Fire Department transported the teen to an area hospital, where he later died from the injury. 

Police interviewed several witnesses and arrested 15-year-old Dontavius Sharkey. Police said the gun used in the incident was recovered with the cooperation of the suspect. 

Friends of Hamilton told KCCI NewsChannel 8 that Hamilton was a junior at Des Moines Lincoln High School. 

As a result of the investigation, Sharkey has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless use of a firearm.

Corey is described in the video as a boy who could make his classmates smile.

It is not yet known who the gun belongs to or how the boys got it.

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