Thursday, a 4-year old became the latest victim of a fatal gunshot in Detroit. Police said the toddler was killed after being shot by his cousin, who was also just 4 years old.
Police said this tragedy was an avoidable accident. Michael Woody a Sergeant with the Detroit police department said the two children had been playing in one of the back bedrooms of a home when a rifle was found by the four-year old girl.
The gun was loaded but not locked inside a case. The girl found the gun under a bed in the room. The Sergeant said the girl then pointed the rifle at her cousin and fired, shooting the toddler in the chest.
Woody said the police were called at 4:50 pm to the home. The child was rushed to the Henry Ford Hospital, but was dead on arrival.
The police said just one adult, a grandmother, was home at the time of the tragedy. Captain Rodney Cox said it was still too early to determine if any charges are to be brought due to the shooting.
Cox said he and his department are behind responsible ownership of guns, but this was not one of those cases. Police insist that all guns should not be loaded in the house, should be locked inside a case and out of the reach of all children.
Neighbors of the house told local reporters that they had not heard any of the gunshots and were not very well acquainted with the family who was living in the house.
One person who was nearby when the tragedy took place said she it was just so sad hearing about an innocent child losing its life because of the irresponsibility of an adult.
Other neighbors just wanted to know how such a young child could gain access to a loaded gun.
Police announced they would make public any information regarding any charges that may be placed against the gun owner or people living at the home.
Michael Turner
