Toddler shot in Arizona home

A toddler was one of the victims in this strange shooting in an Arizona home. One of the victims in this shooting was a Neo-Nazi militia member. From the article:

Upon arrival, first responders believed the toddler, who was between one and 2-years-old, showed signs of life. She was transported to a children’s hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival, Balafas said.

Two handguns and a shotgun were recovered from the crime scene. Balafas said investigators had obtained a search warrant Wednesday evening and a bomb squad was sweeping the house for precautionary reasons.

Law enforcement agents had been nervous about Ready, according to a 2010 story by the Associated Press. He led a militia group that focused on nabbing undocumented immigrants and drug traffickers along the Mexican border. He was also heavily armed and a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi.

“These are explicit Nazis,” Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project told the AP. “These are people who wear swastikas on their sleeves.”

Whatever happened in this incident, another very small child is dead. Too many children die from gunshot injuries every day in our country. Surely we will learn more about this case as more details emerge.

Here is a related article about this story:

Five people died in a shooting Wednesday at a Phoenix-area home, where the investigation is being slowed by concerns there could be hazardous materials in 55-gallon drums in the backyard.

The shooter is among the dead, police said, although they're not yet certain whether he killed himself. Police haven't identified him or the victims.

The bodies — including that of a toddler — are still in the home in the city of Gilbert southeast of Phoenix. Officials are testing an unknown liquid in drums in the backyard as a precautionary measure.

At a briefing for reporters, Gilbert police Sgt. Bill Balafas said all the evidence points to the shooting being related to domestic violence. He didn't elaborate. Officers have recovered two handguns and a shotgun.

From another related article:

Authorities have not identified the other victims, but reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, Hugo Mederos said the victims were his ex-wife, Lisa; their daughter, Amber; Amber's boyfriend, whose name The Republic is withholding until his next of kin could be notified, and Amber's 18-month-old baby, Lilly.

Mederos, who lives in Tampa, said Ready lived at the home with his girlfriend, Lisa.
Ready was a former Marine who headed the U.S. Border Guard, a militia-style group that routinely performed armed patrols in the southern Arizona desert. Early this year, Ready had formed an exploratory committee for a run as Pinal County sheriff.

In a statement of organization filed Jan. 11, Amber Mederos was listed as treasurer of the Committee to Elect J.T. Ready. Her name was nowhere to be found in amended paperwork filed March 12.

Gilbert police spokesman Sgt. Bill Balafas said the gunman's motives is unknown. Authorities recovered two handguns and a shotgun from the scene, Balafas said.

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Safety advice for avoiding accidental shootings of and by kids

This article appeared on an Arkansas television news outlet about keeping children safe from gun accidents. The story points out the alarming statistics that are evident in the daily posts on this blog about the number of children who are injured or killed every day in America by bullets. From the story:

Believe it or not, 30 children are either killed or injured every day by firearms in the United States.

Most of those incidents result from guns owned by the child's family or friends. The startling fact is that most of them are preventable. 

Each year, 20,000 children end up in the emergency room as a result of a firearm. The lucky kids survive, but many die.

"What we do see is usually a kid gets a gun out, and plays with it, and either shoots himself or another child that may be with him," Lt. Terry Hastings of the Little Rock Police Department said.

A recent study found 63% of firearm injuries involving kids were intentional: from homicides, suicide attempts or encounters with law enforcement. But the remaining 37% is what's alarming. All of them were unintentional, meaning young innocent children ended up a victim.

And then the story went on to provide examples of kid shootings in Arkansas followed by this:

But sadly, it does. Of all the accidental shootings involving kids, more than 1/3 take place in the homes of their friends, neighbors or relatives.

Sleepovers or “play days” are a big deal for most kids. They happen all the time. But when was the last time someone asked you, “Do you own a gun?” It's a question many parents never even think about asking.

Experts say it should be a top priority.

And if the answer is yes, you should follow-up with even more questions.

It might be uncomfortable asking such a personal question - but it's one you can't afford not to ask - especially considering what could happen if and when your little one comes across one of these.

The numbers are alarming. But what it boils down to is common sense and education. You must teach your kids what to do if and when they find a gun. And you must take safety precautions in your home, such a buying a safe and gun locks.

But others will argue that your best bet is to not even keep a gun in your home.

That's a decision every family will have to make.

There are places to get more information about kids and guns. The Center to Prevent Youth Violence is all about asking if there are guns where your children play or hang out. Asking a simple question could save a life.

The most important thing to remember is that every gun in the hands of a child or teen must first pass through the hands of an adult.

13-year-old armed with loaded gun shot to death

A 13-year-old Birmingham, Alabama boy was shot to death Friday night.  According to police:

The boy was armed with a loaded gun and his face was covered with a t-shirt.  He approached a car in the parking lot of an apartment complex and ordered the driver to get out.  In response, the driver pulled out a gun and shot the teen at least one time.  The teen ran 30 feet, collapsed and died.  The teen's gun was cocked and ready to fire. 

The incident is still under investigation.

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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