7-year old child unintentionally shot with shotgun in leg

A child in Florence County, South Carolina, was unintentionally shot by his or her father with a shotgun.  The child was shot in the leg and is in serious, but not life-threatening condition.

From an article:

The shooting occurred at the child's father's home at the 1400 block of Willow Trace Drive in Florence at around 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept 8, and there were several people in the home at the time. 

Capt. Michael Nunn with the Florence County Sheriff's Office says the shooting appears to be accidental and the child was not the intended victim. Investigators say they are continuing to question the witnesses at the scene. Nunn said right now it's unclear whether or not the shooter had a different, intended victim in mind. 

Neighbors who also live on Willow Trace Drive have differing opinions of the safety of their neighborhood. 

"It's real sad because I've got kids, I've got grandkids. It's something very devastating, so I'm sorry to hear that. Back here's a nice, quiet place to live. Never have no problem back here," Willow Trace Drive Resident Alexander McCrea said. 

"We fear for our lives here. I'm not comfortable, none of us are. I have a grandson to worry about, it's just very upsetting to hear and to see these things going on and you know a few months back a baby overdosed on cocaine, nine months old," Willow Trace Drive Resident Electra Smith said. 

The child was struck by the pellets in the leg. The child's injuries are serious but not life-threatening. 

Nunn tells WMBF News that investigators are still gathering more details on the incident and that criminal charges are possible.

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Indianapolis girl shot by boy

A shooting at a residence in Indianapolis, Indiana led to a SWAT team called out and the lockdown of three area schools.

It turns out that it was an unintentional shooting of a girl by a boy, who had gotten hold of a loaded, unsecured gun.  The girl was taken to the hospital in critical condition.  The boy fled.

From an article:

Initially, police believed a gunman was barricaded inside the home. SWAT was called to the scene, but police later found he had fled the home before they arrived.

Three schools – Forest Glen Elementary, Sunnyside Elementary and Fall Creek Valley Middle School – were placed under a temporary lockdown. Lawrence Township Schools spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley said students were allowed to move around the school, but guests were not permitted to enter during the lockdown.

Lawrence police Sgt. Matt Miller said the shooting appeared to be an accident involving two juveniles playing with a gun.

A girl who has not been identified was shot and taken to Methodist Hospital. She was in critical condition Wednesday afternoon.

Police believe the boy fled the house after the incident, but was not a threat to the community.

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

2-year old boy shot in head by 9-year old Minnesota boy who found father's gun

2-year old Jacob Xiong and his 9-year old brother were at home while their father was at work.  That's when the older boy found his father's loaded, unsecured gun, pointed it at his younger brother's head, and pulled the trigger.  Jacob has survived so far despite the head wound.

From an article:

A St. Paul father has been charged with child endangerment after his toddler was shot in the head by a gun left in an unlocked cabinet.

According to a criminal complaint, 2-year-old Jacob Xiong was shot by his 9-year-old brother while their parents were at work. It happened on Aug. 2 after Jacob's brother found the gun in a file cabinet inside a bedroom.

The complaint says the 9-year-old thought the gun was locked, pointed it at his little brother's head, and pulled the trigger.

Jacob Xiong was shot through the left side of his forehead. He's being treated at Gillette Children's Hospital.

According to another article, two other boys, ages 7 and 10, were also present during the shooting.  The gun was a 9mm.

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

4-year old boy watches shot mother die; 13-year old boy wounded in Brooklyn

29-year old Fatima Gordon was leaving a grocery store with other relatives, in Brooklyn, when a man shot her multiple times.  Fatima died while protecting her son and trying to comfort him.  

A 13-year old boy was also grazed in the shooting.  Two other men were also injured.

From an article:

Gordon was exiting a grocery store near Clarkson and Flatbush avenues with a handful of family members and her 4-year-old boy in tow when a half-dozen shots rang out.

Mortally wounded, Gordon tried to protect the child, telling her son to “Keep looking at grandma” as she breathed her last, horrified witnesses at the scene said.

“I heard five shots,” resident Nogga Schwartz, who ran to Gordon’s side after the shooting stopped, told the New York Post. “I ran outside and saw Fatima lying on her side. Her mother was holding her, cradling her head. I asked her to stay with us. She blinked and then coughed up blood.”

Other victims included a 13-year-old boy, who suffered a graze wound to the back, and two men in their 20s. One of them men was shot in the right arm and buttocks as he ran from the gunfire, police sources said.

Investigators say that Johnson was aiming at an enemy when he opened fire — hitting Gordon and his other victims by accident.

Johnson was charged with murder and attempted murder after several witnesses picked him out of lineups and was denied bail at his arraignment on Friday.

According to the article, the shooter, 21-year old Christopher Johnson, has turned himself in.  He claims that, although the woman was shot multiple times, she was not the intended victim.

17-year old Chicago boy killed in gang shooting

A 17-year old boy was shot and killed in Chicago's southwest side, one of 11 shot and 2 killed over the weekend.

From an article:

Jesus Garcia, 17, was in the 2900 block of West 56th Street when shots were fired about 8:40 p.m., authorities said. Garcia, of the 5200 block of South Fairfield Avenue, was taken in critical condition to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he died Saturday at 9:57 a.m., authorities said.

The shooting appeared to be gang-related, police said.

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14-year old girl shot in stomach in Flint, Michigan

Few details about the shooting of a 14-year old girl in Flint, Michigan.

From an article:

Police say a 14-year-old girl was shot in the stomach around 12:15 a.m. today outside a home on Maplewood near Bennett Avenue.

The girl is listed in serious condition, according to police.

Police had no suspect information.

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15-year old Georgia girl unintentionally shot in car by 16-year old girl in back seat

A 16-year old girl was riding in the back seat with a loaded gun when it unintentionally discharged, in Fayette County, Georgia.  The bullet hit a 15-year old girl in the front seat, injuring her with non-life-threatening injuries.

From an article:

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office investigators made an arrest on Sept. 1 in connection with a 15-year-old girl from Fulton County being shot earlier that day inside a moving vehicle on Ga. Highway 138 in north Fayette County.

Sheriff’s spokesman Brent Rowan said investigators arrested a 16-year-old Fairburn girl on charges of reckless conduct and possession of a firearm by a person under the age 18.

Rowan said the case involved the 16-year-old female accidentally discharging a firearm inside a moving vehicle on Hwy. 138 where she was a passenger in a rear seat. When the firearm was accidentally discharged a 15-year-old juvenile front seat passenger was struck by the stray bullet, Rowan said.

Rowan said the 15-year-old was transported to Grady Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries at the time of the incident. The 16-year-old female is currently being held in a juvenile youth detention facility, Rowan added.

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