A 3-year-old boy accidentally shot his 2-year-old sister after finding a gun that had been hidden between sofa cushions by a family friend, Florida authorities said Saturday.
The girl was in “exceptionally” critical condition, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd at a news conference.
After the girl was shot, three men in the home at the time scooped up the children and jumped in a car to drive to a hospital. On their way, they got into a crash with another vehicle, causing several injuries. The girl and one of the adults was taken to the hospital by a good Samaritan who had stopped to offer assistance after the crash, Judd said.
“It can’t be stressed enough, if you have firearms in your home, keep them away from children,” Judd said. “A beautiful little girl is fighting for her life right now because another child who didn’t know any better was able to get his hands on a loaded gun.”
Florida toddler finds gun in couch, accidentally shoots 2-year-old KATE FELDMAN
A 3-year-old Florida boy accidentally shot a 2-year-old girl with a loaded gun a man hid in their couch cushions, officials said Saturday.
Kevonte’ Wilson, 23, went over to the Lakeland house Friday to watch basketball and shoved the gun in the couch to keep it away from the young children, he told investigators, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a press conference Saturday.
Just before midnight, the toddler found the gun and fired, hitting the girl.
The three men in the house, including Wilson, grabbed the girl and rushed her to the hospital, but got into a car accident on the way.