Two adults could face charges after a baby accessed a gun and was seriously injured in a shooting in northeast Charlotte, police said.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 1-year-old child was seriously injured when they were shot after accessing an improperly stored gun in northeast Charlotte Monday night, police said.
It happened at an apartment complex on Fairmarket Drive around 7:30 p.m. Monday. The child, who hasn’t been identified, was taken to Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, according to Medic.
“It’s really heart-wrenching,” Joseph Sellers, a barber at Edwards Boyz Barber Shop said. “I can’t really believe it. A 1-year-old.”
A sign at the complex says it’s a gun-free community, but that wasn’t the case behind closed doors, as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said the child was able to access the gun. In a moment, a life was forever changed.
“He’s not even in the prime of life, not even close to being in the prime of life,” Early Vaughters, a fellow barber at Edwards Boyz, said. “Not good. I’m at a loss for words.”
The police report alleges that two family members failed to properly store at least two guns. Those adults, who haven’t been identified, may also be facing charges for possession of marijuana, according to CMPD documentation.
Investigators say this shooting is another reminder of the importance of properly storing and securing weapons in homes, especially for people with children. According to a report by the CDC, children being unintentionally shot is a leading cause of death for kids from birth to 17.
The report found guns were often stored loaded (74%) and unlocked (76%).
Across all age groups, about two-thirds of shooters were playing with or showing the firearm to another person when it discharged, and just above 10% of all the children mistook a real weapon for a toy.
A firearm safety device and a locking storage container can go a long way to protect those in your home.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
