Gun safety is always important. However, it is paramount for gun owners with children in the home to take extraordinary measures to protect their kids. Because something tragic can happen in the blink of an eye.
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Recently, a young child in New Jersey got ahold of a firearm in his home. The 3-year-old accidentally shot himself with the gun. And now, he's fighting for his life.
On August 15, the Newark Police Department responded to a call about a shooting at roughly 5:47 p.m. People reported. A statement from Fritz Frage, the Newark Public Safety director, said in a statement that a 3-year-old boy was found in a home with two other kids. Neither of the other children were harmed.
The 3-year-old was transported to University Hospital, and the latest reports have him listed in critical condition.
"A firearm was recovered at the scene. The shooting appears to have been accidental and self-inflicted," the Newark PD told People. "This incident remains under investigation. No further information is available."
In surveillance footage obtained by WABC-TV, the 3-year-old's older brother could be seen running down a sidewalk before entering a corner store. The store's manager told the news outlet that the boy was covered in blood and couldn't breathe. Reportedly, a worker went to the home, returned to the store, and told the manager, "Boss, there's a little boy rolling around in blood," before the manager called 911.
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"I'm scared myself because we were here, but we didn't know what was happening, but we saw all the cops and everything," Edith Frinpong, a Newark resident and mom of two, told WABC.
She added, "We should be careful to put weapons in our homes in a safe place."
On August 16, 2024, the Newark Police Department issued an important reminder via Facebook for gun owners.
"Due to the accidental self-inflicted shooting of a child on Thursday, August 15, 2024, Newark Police respectfully advise the public to follow the below gun safety tips," the post read in part.
The department stressed to "keep the gun unloaded and locked up in a cabinet, safe, gun vault, or storage case." It also encouraged caregivers to keep ammunition "in a place separate from the gun," "consider using a gun lock," and "hide the keys (or passcode) to the locked storage."
