In yet another distressing incident involving a child accessing a firearm within a residence, a tragic mishap unfolded on Monday afternoon in Jacksonville, Florida. A nine-year-old inadvertently discharged a firearm, striking a six-year-old in the head.
Tragically, despite being rushed to a hospital, the six-year-old succumbed to the injuries, as confirmed by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant Chief J.D. Stronko provided initial insights into the incident, noting that both juveniles were under the supervision of an adult within the residence. Regrettably, one of the youngsters managed to gain access to a firearm and, in an unintentional discharge, caused the fatal injury. The preliminary investigation suggests that this was not a result of criminal intent.
Amidst the ongoing inquiry, Chief Stronko acknowledged the limitations in providing specific details about the firearm’s ownership or its whereabouts. Additionally, due to legal constraints under the state’s Marsy’s Law, he refrained from disclosing the nature of the relationship between the two children involved.
