3-Year-Old Boy in Critical Condition After Accidental Self-Shooting in US

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A tragic incident unfolded in Newark, New Jersey, where a three-year-old boy accidentally shot himself, leaving him in critical condition. The incident occurred on August 15 at approximately 5:47 p.m. local time, when police responded to a shooting at a residence on Wainwright Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered the injured boy along with two other children inside the home, according to a statement from Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Frage.

The boy was immediately rushed to University Hospital for treatment, where he remains in critical condition. The Newark Department of Public Safety confirmed that a firearm was recovered at the scene and that the shooting appears to have been accidental and self-inflicted. The incident is currently under investigation, with authorities stating that no further information is available at this time.

In the moments following the shooting, the boy's older brother was captured on CCTV footage frantically seeking help at a local store. The store manager recounted how the older sibling, covered in blood, explained that his younger brother was struggling to breathe. A clerk from the store rushed to the home and found the boy lying in a pool of blood. The clerk urgently informed the manager, saying, "Boss, there's a little boy rolling around in blood," prompting the manager to call 911.

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The community was deeply shaken by the incident, with local residents expressing their fears. Edith Frinpong, a Newark mother of two, shared her concerns, saying, "I'm scared myself because we were here, but we didn't know what was happening, but we saw all the cops and everything. We should be careful to put weapons in our homes...in a safe place."

In response to the tragedy, the Newark Department of Public Safety took to Facebook to urge gun owners to exercise extreme caution when storing firearms. They emphasized the importance of being vigilant about gun safety, advising that guns should be kept unloaded, locked up, and stored separately from ammunition. They also suggested using gun locks and keeping keys or passcodes to gun storage out of reach of children. "You cannot be too careful about where and how you secure a firearm, especially in homes or other locations where children may be present," the department stated.

This heartbreaking event comes nearly a year after a similar tragedy in Harris County, Texas, where a three-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed her four-year-old sister. In that case, the two children were left alone in a room when the younger child found a loaded gun and fired a fatal shot. Sheriff Ed Gonzales, who investigated the incident, noted that five adults were present in the apartment at the time, all of whom were family and friends. Despite their presence, the tragic accident occurred, underscoring the critical need for stringent gun safety measures in homes with children.

These incidents serve as somber reminders of the devastating consequences that can result from improper firearm storage, particularly in homes where young children are present. The Newark Department of Public Safety's call for heightened vigilance is a crucial message for all gun owners to take seriously in order to prevent future tragedies.

Aug. 19, 2024 1:12 p.m. 392

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