A 2-year-old boy apparently shot and killed his 11-year-old sister while they and their siblings played with a gun inside a Philadelphia home, police said Sunday.
Jamara Stevens was fatally shot Saturday morning with a gun that police believe was brought into the home by the mother’s boyfriend a few hours earlier.
The mother was home with her four children in a master bedroom, Lt. John Walker said. Police say the shooting occurred when she left the room at about 10 a.m. to use the bathroom.
The 2-year-old pointed the loaded, cocked gun in the direction of his sister and the gun discharged, according to investigators.
The fatal bullet struck Jamara’s shoulder and then traveled to her chest. Jamara was rushed to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, but died about a half-hour later, police said.
It appears that the boyfriend at least TRIED to place the gun out of reach of the children. However it seems he did not understand the tenacity of children in their efforts to get their hands on something new and forbidden.
Police believe the mother’s boyfriend had brought the gun to the house and stashed it on top of a refrigerator. It’s not immediately clear who brought it to the bedroom.
Homicide detectives are investigating and will forward information to the district attorney’s office, police said. No charges have been filed.
And it is unlikely that any charges will be filed, since this appears to be the very definition of an accidental shooting.
However it is an accident that simply could not have taken place before the arrival of the boyfriend, and his weapon.
I am sure the boyfriend believed that his gun made him and everybody around him safer, only to learn that often it has just the opposite effect.
Yeah, it was an accident. The gun was accidentally loaded, accidentally cocked and accidentally ready to go. The two year old picked up the gun and it accidentally "went off". It's a shame there wasn't a trigger lock accidentally put in place. Amazon's got them from six bucks and up.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to the family.Whoever moved the gun from the top of the fridge to the bedroom must be suffering unimaginable guilt.
It is sad.
ReplyDeleteBut don't punish millions for the irresponsibility of a few.
Are you suggesting that passing laws, or setting expectation that guns be kept secure is punishing responsible owners. If they are responsible owners they will have their guns locked up properly.
DeleteOr do "responsible" gun owners somehow have kids that are less inquisitive? and friends of kids that are less inquisitive?
"responsible" gun owners are just the ones who haven't won the "accidental discharge lotto".
Delete...YET.
Terrible. I don't understand parents who have unsecured guns in their homes. It's NOT HARD to lock em up WELL.
ReplyDeleteAlmost as sad as that is when I see photographers posing infants with guns, thinking it's cute.
EARTH TO PEOPLE. BABIES INNOCENCE+ GUNS doesn't equal cute or positive things.
I am in no way against hunting. I hunt and eat my kills.
I also pose with the carcasses if it's a huge kill or something different, or a weird circumstance.
Unrelated to guns, this reminds me of when I was about 4 and was at a babysitters house. This woman watched about 7 kids and we were basically allowed to do anything. Well, I vividly remember sitting behind her couch with a lighter I found and actually lighting it (which is funny because now, at age 37, I have trouble lighting them).
ReplyDeleteKids WILL get into anything at anytime. It takes 1 second of inattention.
Think about all we used to do when we'd run off with friends and adventure around town or the neighborhood with we were 7. Times have definitely changed but kids have natural survival instincts. HOWEVER, it doesn't mean they know what guns are. Or lighters/fire.
smh
Kids don't have natural survival instincts, which is why they need parent.
DeleteSarah Palin encourages girls to play with guns. It makes them prettier or something. You can tell by her belt buckle how serious she takes the whole issue.
DeleteI want to know when states are going to get tough on adults who leave firearms unlocked.
ReplyDeleteLoaded guns in the house with kids, unless they are in a secured location, or have trigger locks should be a crime.
Any fatality resulting, even from an accident should be big jail time.
Yea. You have to have a car seat for your child...
DeleteIf a kid kills another kid with an unsecured handgun, the adults rarely gets charged with anything because "they've suffered enough" and "it was an accident."
DeleteWhat bullshit.
The only thing that will stop a bad two year-old with a gun is a good two year-old with a gun, eh Mr. LaPierre?
ReplyDeleteSpread it, please: http://stopourshootings.org/home.aspx
ReplyDelete"STOP OUR SHOOTINGS, INC. evolved following the accidental shooting that occurred to our 12-year-old daughter Shanelle on July 18, 1997. She was shot through the head with an unsecured and fully loaded 9mm semi automatic gun that belonged to a Federal Agent. To read the story, click here. The gun was left unsecured in a briefcase, combination set at "007" and left in the "Open" position. The shock of almost losing Shanelle was such a terrifying experience that it forever changed our family's future. Shanelle has had several reconstructive surgeries. Her latest surgery aired on Discover Health. We now go to schools teaching children about the real dangers of guns, advocate gun safety and responsibility, promote safe storage of firearms and the "Get Real" campaign."
Next on Amazing America....
ReplyDelete(Right Sarah?)
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Four-Year-Old-Dropped-Off-at-Hospital-with-Gunshot-Wound-254196701.html
ReplyDeleteAn old boyfriend of mine was a NYC detective. He lived at home with his father, a retired NYC police officer, and his brother, a NYC police officer. His brother, in his 20s, was the youngest family member in the house. EVERY time one of them came home, all weapons were unloaded and locked in the gun safe in the bedroom.
ReplyDeleteThere were no children in the house and three of the residents were trained police officers but they knew enough about weapons - and respected their potential for danger enough - to make sure they were safely locked away where no one could accidentally have access to them.
When you accidentally kill a child with your car, it's called "vehicular homicide" and they do file charges. Why is this accidental shooting any different?
ReplyDeleteIt isn't an accident, it's negligence. If it's an accident. then that whole "guns don't kill people, people kill people" argument is bullshit. News organizations really need to change the narrative on stories like this.
DeleteThe boyfriend should go to jail. 20 years sounds good.
ReplyDeleteMakes me sick. I have no faith that things will ever change. I would say the parents should be charged with something, but their actions will cause them pain the rest of their lives.
ReplyDeleteUntil people get tired of kids killing kids and start holding the gun owner responsible, this will continue. The NRA doesn't care. Kids are collateral damage in their fight to arm every single person in America with assault weapons. Because 2nd amendment trumps 'life and liberty." Or their kickback from each sale trumps common sense. America is retreating into 3rd world status. Thy have used the fear of a black President to push their agenda, and it's terrifying. We have to vote our the fear and the hate, and get people in place to star up for those of us who don't need guns to feel macho. AND we must start prosecuting these morons allowed to buy any gun they see, load them, and leave them where there are children. It IS the boyfriend's fault. It was his gun, and someone died. Again.
ReplyDelete