Police push gun locks after 7-year-old dies in accidental shooting
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police said a 7-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself Sunday night when he got hold of an unsecured, unattended gun.
Police said this sort of accident -- the second such shooting in less than a week -- needs to stop and people need to lock up their guns to keep them safe and away from children.
“We have tragically seen this before in our city. We need this to stop,” Columbus Police Sgt. Joe Albert said.
Police were investigating inside the home where this happened on Grandview Avenue until about 2:30 Monday afternoon.
“First calls came in just with a lot of commotion in the background,” Albert said.
Neighbors we spoke with off camera said they were shocked at the incident. They and police said the shooting happened at a rental property, so neighbors said they didn't know the family staying there.
Police officials said no charges have been filed at this time, but they will present the case to the prosecutor's office.
“We say it all the time. You have to lock up your guns. As soon as you get home, you have to lock up your gun. Children are curious. Children want to know what it is," Albert said.
Last week, a nine-year-old was accidentally shot in East Columbus. He did survive. Police charged a 27-year-old man with negligent assault after he told police he tripped and the gun went off. In September, a three-year-old died after accidentally shooting himself in South Columbus. The boy's mother was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
In Sunday night’s incident, police have not yet said whose gun it was or who could be responsible.
“At this time, it appears to be a horrific accident where the child accidentally shot themselves with an unattended firearm. Very tragic,” Albert said. “We need to not have another child lose their life because of a firearm that's unattended.”
There are several places around the city that give out free gun locks or safes, including Columbus Public Health and the Columbus Fire Department.