Rostraver police.Photo:WTAE
WTAE
The parents of a 4-year-old Pennsylvania boy who shot and wounded himself earlier this year are now facing criminal charges.
The boy shot himself with a handgun on July 6 at his family’s home in Rostraver Township, an area located about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh, authorities said.
The D.A.’s office said an investigation determined the handgun involved in the shooting was allegedly kept on the floor in a bedroom of the home, unsecured and loaded.
“Police confirmed both Steele and Lynn were home at the time of the shooting and heard a ‘pop’ from the bedroom and found the child bleeding on the floor with the handgun beside the child,” the release states.
After the shooting, the boy was flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he underwent emergency surgery, the release states.
The boy’s family told CBS News in September that he had lost feeling in his arms and legs and was in physical therapy. According to the D.A.’s office, he “continues to receive constant medical care.”
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Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli called the incident a “tragic and unacceptable shooting that ultimately could have and should have been prevented.”
“There is one simple solution to prevent these types of incidents from happening, and it is to store your firearms in a safe and secure location.”
“This little boy will likely have to live with this painful reminder for the rest of his life,” the district attorney added. “While we know we cannot prevent every crime, we have to find a way to protect our most vulnerable. My office is partnering with the nonprofit, Ray of Hope, to invite anyone from the community to receive a free gun lock as a way to ensure our firearms are secure.”
It’s unclear if Steele and Lynn have entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on their behalf.
For more information on safe firearm storage and the most effective ways to protect children from unsecured firearms, visitBeSMARTforkids.org.
source: people.com
