What you should know about children and gun safety
According to BradyUnited.org, nearly 3,000 children ages 1 to 17 are injured by accidental shootings each year in the United States. Here's everything you need to know about gun safety.
Dwight Adams, [email protected]
A boy was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday night after being injured in a shooting in southwest Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detectives believe the injury was self-inflicted, but are still investigating and have not confirmed the cause of the shooting.
According to a police news release, officers initially received a report of a person shot in the 2600 block of South Belmont Avenue, but were then directed to divert to the intersection of South Harding Street and West Morris Street.
When police arrived, they found the boy suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The boy's age has not yet been released, but initial reports indicate he is a toddler.
“We cannot stress enough how devastating firearms are in the hands of children without adult supervision,” IMPD Officer Drew Brown said during a press conference, according to Fox59.
“This is an absolute tragedy.”
This is the fourth child involved in a shooting in the last 10 days. Three of the shootings were ruled possibly self-inflicted.
Last week, 4-year-old Corione Monte Butts Jr. and 5-year-old Jayden Ewing were hospitalized in critical condition within 24 hours of each other after self-inflicting gunshot wounds. Both boys succumbed to their injuries on August 23, 2024.
On Monday evening, three-year-old Armonie Booker died in the parking lot of the Shadeland Station Shopping Center after being injured in a shooting.
“This is the second time in 24 hours that Indianapolis has had to receive news of this nature. Our condolences go out to the family, but we are devastated to continue to have to respond to something like this,” Brown said Tuesday evening.
“We cannot stress enough that gun ownership and gun responsibility are one and the same. If you are a gun owner, you must take responsibility.”
In 2023, 24% of shootings involving juveniles investigated by Indianapolis Police were classified as “accidental.”
The Marion County Sheriff's Office and the national gun safety program Project ChildSafe funded the gun locks. A maximum of two gun locks are available per person.
At the local Indianapolis Public Library branch, citizens can pick up free gun locks sponsored by the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Police have not said whether charges will be filed in connection with any of the shootings.
This article is being updated.
