A three-year-old child in Michigan was taken to the hospital after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Videos by Suggest
The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) responded to a reported shooting on the 700 block of Sinclair Avenue around 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan.18, per local ABC affiliate WZZM. Upon arrival, authorities conducted a preliminary investigation and concluded that the 3-year-old’s injury was “accidentally self-inflicted,” according to a statement from the GRPD per the outlet.
The child was taken to a nearby hospital and is receiving treatment for serious injuries that, fortunately, are not life-threatening. Meanwhile, the firearm owner is cooperating fully with investigators as an inquiry into safe storage practices is conducted.
The Owner of the Firearm That Allegedly Injured the Child Could Face Up to Five Years in Prison
Michigan’s Secure Storage Law, Public Act 17 of 2023, mandates that unattended firearms be stored safely to prevent unauthorized access, especially by minors. The law requires firearms to either be unloaded and secured with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor may be present on the premises.
Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a news release that the department aims to keep residents informed about the law.
According to the release, improperly storing a firearm that allows a minor to access it and cause harm—either to themselves or others—could result in penalties of up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. More severe injuries or fatalities may lead to steeper fines and longer prison sentences.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said when the law was enacted that she was “proud that our state has finally implemented new commonsense gun safety measures,” adding she was “committed to using the resources of my office to educate residents about the new measures and support our communities through implementation.”
Data from December 2023, reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and highlighted in a Michigan news release, shows that 67 percent of unintentional firearm deaths among children happened while they were playing with or showing the firearm to others when it accidentally discharged.
In the past year, several self-inflicted shooting incidents involving children have been reported in New Jersey, Sacramento, Missouri, Charlotte, and other locations.