A horrible tragedy just took place in one Florida home when a toddler found an unsecured gun and shot their own mother. The 21-year-old mom, Shamaya Lynn, was on a Zoom conference call at the time of the shooting.
The incident took place on Wednesday. The Altamonte Springs Police Department said in a statement that the person who called police was someone in the same virtual meeting who saw the accidental shooting happen in real time.
First responders arrived on the scene and tried their best to save the wounded mother, but the gunshot proved to be fatal. The bullet reportedly struck the mom in the head, authorities said.
The handgun was reportedly found by the toddler inside the home. It was not in a secure location, such as a lockbox. The gun reportedly belonged to the child's father.
The incident is obviously a terrible accident, but gun owners need to use caution when storing their firearms. That's especially true when there are children living in the home.
"The investigation is ongoing and detectives are working closely with the Seminole County State Attorney's Office concerning any charges which may be appropriate for the owner of the firearm," a statement from the Altamonte Springs Police Department reads.
Police want other gun owners to pay attention to this incident. "To anyone and everyone tuning in to this story, if you own a firearm, please keep it locked and secured," Officer Roberto Ruiz Jr. said. "This incident could be avoided."
During the shooting, both of Lynn's children were in the home. Neither were injured. They are currently in the care of relatives.
Accidental shootings are a huge issue in the US. Hundreds of unintentional shootings by children take place each year. Last year saw a major spike in children finding firearms in their homes and accidentally injuring or killing someone as a result.
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, about 77% of accidental shootings by children happen inside their own homes. Sarah Burd-Sharps, research director for Everytown, says, "Adults can't count on children to 'know better' and not touch firearms. It's always a parent's responsibility to keep guns out of the reach of children and teens, especially as more young people are home during the quarantine."
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that the best way to avoid these types of incidents is to have no guns in the home.
