Authorities in north Florida are investigating the case of a 9-year-old boy who accidentally shot another 6-year-old boy, ending his life in Jacksonville.
The incident was recorded around 2:45 p.m. last Monday, August 14, but it was not until this Thursday that the media Local 10 News informed about what happened.
Now, county police are trying to find out how a child gained access to a loaded firearm and whether any adults should be held legally responsible for the death.
The only thing that has been reported about the case is that, at the time of the incident, there was an adult inside the house, but it is still unknown if the firearm belonged to him.
During a press conference, county officials indicated that the minor would have fired only one shot, but that it turned out to be fatal.
Neighbors interviewed by the aforementioned local media stressed that what happened was unfortunate, stating that it broke their hearts to know that a six-year-old boy had lost his life in this way.
The adult was questioned by authorities, while other residents in the area, who claimed to have firearms in their homes, stated that this did not have to be the case, and that the key was to keep those objects under strict care.
“It’s extremely unfortunate things, you know, you have to keep those kinds of things under lock and key. It’s not a toy, it’s not, it’s not something to play with. It’s a weapon,” said one of the neighbors, identified as Nolan Pniewski.
The local media reports that some 15 minors have received at least one shot so far this year in Jacksonville, and that four of them have lost their lives from their injuries.
Similarly, they point out that three of the accidental shootings that have resulted in the death of a minor, including this week, were considered “accidental.”
A June study by Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that the majority of accidental firearm deaths involve males, and that these occur at home, either at the “shooter’s” or the deceased’s home.
The study indicates that the weapons were stored in a piece of furniture or closet, but that they were loaded and not locked.
The authorities indicated that the investigation continues, but, until this Wednesday, no mention had been made of a possible criminal charge.
