Florida Toddler Shoots 2-Year-Old Sister After Finding Gun Hidden in Couch
A Florida toddler accidentally shot his younger sister after finding a gun inside a couch. The tragic incident happened just before midnight on Friday at the residence located in Lakeland.
New York Post reported that the three-year-old boy shot his two-year-old sister while the three grownups at home were busy watching a basketball game on the television.
Authorities said in a press conference that the Florida toddler and her sister were both Black, and the two-year-old victim sustained a gunshot wound in her chest and severe injuries to her internal organs.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd noted that the toddler victim is in "exceptionally critical" but stable condition.
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Florida Toddler Shoots Her Sister
Three friends gathered over to the Lakeland house to watch basketball. The gun owner, identified as Kevonte Wilson, 23, shoved his gun on the couch to keep it away from the children, New York Daily News reported.
Judd said the adults then heard a "pop" just before midnight, which led to discovering the two-year-old girl being shot and on the couch as the Florida toddler ran to his room and cried. The mother was not home at the time.
Wilson and the two other men in the house grabbed the girl and rushed her to the hospital. But they got into a car accident on the way. Luckily, a good Samaritan stopped to help them and took the girl to the hospital.
"A beautiful little girl is fighting for her life right now because a child who didn't know any better was able to get his hands on a loaded gun," said Judd.
The sheriff added that he wondered why a person would think of safely keeping a gun away from children by sticking it between the couch.
Judd further noted that there were significant injuries in the accident that happened in Olive Street. As another vehicle turned into their path, they t-boned that vehicle, according to the sheriff. Police responded to the crash scene.
Adults in the Florida Home Arrested
Authorities arrested two adults who were with the toddlers during the shooting incident. Wilson will face legal charges for failing to safely store a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, and possessing marijuana.
Meanwhile, the homeowner, identified as Chad Berrien, 24, was also arrested for possession of marijuana and maintaining a house of drug use.
The third man, identified as Roderick Haynes, 23, was not charged. Citing Marsy's Law, authorities did not detail the relationship of Berrien and the two other men to the Florida toddlers.
ABC News noted that the Florida toddler, who accidentally shot her sister, was taken by the Department of Children and Families and was placed in his grandmother's custody.
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WATCH: Toddler Finds Gun Hidden in Couch, Shoots 2-Year-Old Sister in Polk County, Deputies Say - From WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando
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