Florida: 9-Year-Old Boy Accidentally Shots 6-Year-Old Boy Dead While Playing With Loaded Gun

A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Jacksonville, Florida, as a 6-year-old boy lost his life after being shot in the head by a 9-year-old child, per the New York Post.

The older child gained access to a loaded firearm and discharged a single shot, resulting in the tragic death of the younger Florida boy.

The incident occurred on Monday shortly before 3 p.m. in the 5500 block of Shady Pine Street South.

Law enforcement responded to a call reporting a person shot, and it was soon revealed that one of the juveniles had managed to obtain a firearm and discharged it, hitting the victim.

The 6-year-old was quickly rushed to the University of Florida Shands Hospital, but sadly, the gunshot wound proved fatal.

Authorities are now grappling with the unsettling task of determining how the 9-year-old was able to access the loaded firearm. It remains uncertain whether the gun was secured under lock and key within the residence.

Fatal Shooting Happened While Boys Are Under Adult Supervision

At the time of the incident, the two children are at home under the supervision of an adult. Assistant Chief J.D. Stronko provided this information during a press briefing, according to CBS News.

Law enforcement questioned the adult present in the house. While no charges have been filed as of now, authorities are seeking answers about the specifics of the tragic event.

"We're trying to get some answers to the specifics regarding the incident," Stronko said.

Florida has a child access prevention law, under which individuals who store a loaded firearm and are aware or should be aware that a minor could access it are required to secure the firearm in a locked container or with a trigger lock.

Failure to do so is considered a misdemeanor.

Death of 6-Year-Old Boy Marks 15th Child Shot in Florida This Year

This devastating incident highlights a broader issue in the United States, where unintentional shootings involving children have taken a toll.

There have been over 240 accidental shootings by children in the US this year alone, leading to 88 deaths and 160 injuries, according to data analyzed by the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

Tragically, more than a dozen unintentional shootings involving children have occurred in Florida this year.

Since the beginning of this year, a troubling total of 15 children have been victims of gunshots. Among these incidents, four tragic cases resulted in fatalities, while three, including the recent Monday incident, were classified as accidental, News4JAX reports.

A significant number of these incidents occur within the home, often due to loaded and unlocked firearms.

The importance of parents discussing firearm safety with children's friends' and relatives' homes is underscored, according to Nichole Michaels from the Nationwide Children's Hospital.

By making these conversations a normal part of household safety discussions, tragedies can potentially be prevented.

Data from Everytown for Gun Safety also indicates that unintentional shootings involving children tend to occur more frequently at home, with the highest average number of incidents happening during the summer months.

A chilling statistic from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence reveals that around 4.6 million minors in the US live in homes with loaded, unlocked firearms.

This sobering reality underlines the urgent need for increased awareness, education, and responsible firearm storage to protect the lives of children.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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