A 5-year-old child was shot in the upper body during a terrible incident that happened in a southwest Washington, D.C., apartment on Monday night.
The shooting occurred after her 3-year-old brother gained access to an unlocked gun in the apartment, underscoring the risks associated with poorly maintained firearms, particularly in homes with small children.
According to information provided by Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, officers were called to a shooting at around 6:30 p.m.
An apartment on the Unit block of Galveston Street SW was determined to be the scene of the incident. Law enforcement and rescue personnel discovered the wounded toddler, who had sustained a severe gunshot wound, upon their arrival.
The 5-year-old girl’s condition and the circumstances surrounding the 3-year-old boy’s access to the pistol have not been further revealed by the police.
The incident emphasizes how crucial it is to secure firearms in homes, especially those with children, in order to avert future tragedies.
In order to lower the possibility of unintentional shootings, this occurrence serves as a warning to gun owners to follow safety procedures such employing trigger locks, gun safes, or keeping ammo apart from firearms.
At this time, the authorities are still investigating the issue in order to determine whether or not they will file charges or take other actions against the individuals who kept the firearm in their residence.
Following the administration of first aid, the young lady was sent to a neighboring hospital in a highly severe condition. It was reported by Smith that she was still in a dire condition.
A man who was inside the apartment and in responsibility of the children’s care at the time of the incident was brought into custody and accused with child abuse, according to the authorities. The men were in charge of the children.
According to the authorities, a woman was also brought into jail and accused of assaulting a special police officer who worked at the apartment complex.
The officer was hired there. They believed the woman to be the sister of the girl who had been shot, according to the authorities.
“What I want to emphasize tonight is that this incident really highlights the danger of unsecured firearms in homes and especially around children,” Smith said. “We want to emphasize the importance of firearm safety and we are asking everyone to keep our young female victim in your prayers at this time.”
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During the press conference, Smith stated that the investigation was still ongoing and that the information that was disclosed was preliminary and could be susceptible to subsequent changes.