It's the kind of devastating news no one ever wants to hear — a 2-year-old boy in Indiana found a loaded gun inside his home and shot himself while his mother was in the next room. According to Indiana State Police, the boy, Leighton Owings, died at the hospital after being struck by a single bullet.
Police are continuing to investigate the situation that led to the boy's death, but preliminary evidence suggests that his mother was in the next room, feeding Leighton's baby sister.
It's a horrific incident that shows just how important it is for gun owners to lock up their guns when there are children living in the home. Sadly, this kind of thing happens far too often.
It's incredibly sad to hear about the death of any young child. When that death likely could've been prevented, it feels even more senseless. It is unknown why there was a gun where such a small child could find it. But police are still investigating.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family, which includes Leighton’s mom, Caci Seals, her baby daughter Raelynn, and her fiancé Noah Collins. The tributes have been pouring in on the page. "We are all so very saddened by the sudden loss of this sweet sweet boy," said Amber Wilson, the sister of Noah Collins, who launched the fundraiser.
It's so hard to hear about these incidents, but what's even more shocking is that Leighton's death took place just days after a 5-year-old Georgia girl was killed after playing with a handgun in a bedroom while an adult was in another room. In that case, a 36-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children for leaving the gun unattended.
The rates of unintentional shootings by children have increased this year with more people remaining at home. There has been a 43% increase in such shootings between March and April compared to those months in the three years before. It's a very sharp turn in the wrong direction, especially when organizations like Moms Demand Action have been working so hard to educate people about gun safety.
The community is obviously devastated by this child's death. On the GoFundMe page he is described lovingly as a "smart, funny and fun to be around." It also says that "He loves his family and loved life."
While it seems there may have been some negligence on the part of the parents in this case, the situation couldn't be more devastating. Every mom understands the stress of having a toddler and a baby in the house. Slipping into the next room to feed your infant is often a necessity. In this case, the unimaginable happened.
In another horrific incident, an 11-year-old boy in Woodbridge, California, shot and killed himself. According to Moms Demand Action, it took place while he was at home online learning. A week before that, a 12-year-old boy in Henderson, North Carolina, shot and wounded a classmate of the same age. It seems like these incidents are in the news almost constantly.
It's unimaginable to think about what this poor family must be going through after the loss of their child. Hopefully, this devastating incident helps people to realize just how important it is to take all of the proper precautions when it comes to gun safety. When there are children living in the home, that becomes infinitely more important.
