GLENDALE, AZ – A four-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday morning after he accidentally shot himself with a handgun, according to local authorities. The Glendale Police discovered the boy with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest at a residence near 67th Avenue and Camelback Road. The child’s injuries were deemed life-threatening.
Officer Moroni Mendez reported that the residents cooperated comprehensively with the police. He shared, “It was learned that the child was in bed and there was a firearm in the bed. He reached over underneath a pillow and then an accidental discharge is what occurred and struck the child.” The adults who were present at the home then contacted the police, which is what initiated the investigation.
The boy’s father, 44-year-old Kevin Lavell Rhymes, and his girlfriend, 31-year-old Laquasha Lachell Sebastian, were in the house at the time of the incident. While it wasn’t clear to whom the firearm was registered, Sebastian claimed ownership.
Following the investigation into this tragic incident, Rhymes and Sebastian were taken into custody and face charges of child abuse, child endangerment, and misconduct involving weapons. Officer Moroni Mendez underscored the importance of gun safety.
There was another child in the home, prompting the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) to get involved.