GARY, IN – A 2-year-old boy was fatally wounded in a shooting incident that was accidentally carried out by his 3-year-old sibling in Gary, Indiana, according to police. Officers were dispatched to Northlake Methodist Hospital on Friday night in response to a shooting involving the two toddlers.
Upon arrival at the site, they found the mother of both children. She informed police that her 3-year-old child had accidentally used her firearm to shoot his younger sibling. The toddler located the gun in her purse when she had momentarily left a room in a house on the 2100 block of Georgia Street, the mother told authorities. The sound of a gunshot was reported by neighbors in the area, just a few minutes before 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
The 2-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries and passed away. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force has assumed charge of the investigation. Gary Police Commander Sam Roberts stated that the department conducts criminal investigations to determine whether shootings of this nature are a tragic accident or a result of negligence.
Upon news of the incident, Gary’s Mayor Jerome A. Prince and Police Chief Anthony Titus offered their condolences in a joint statement. They emphasized that it’s each adult’s duty to ensure the safekeeping of firearms, affirming their commitment to making free gun locks available through the Gary Police Department. They also reiterated their resolution to vigilantly provide these potentially life-saving resources to the community.
Since July 2022, Indiana law stipulates that individuals aged 18 years and older, who are not prohibited by state or federal laws from possessing firearms, may carry, conceal, or transport a handgun without needing a permit. In light of these recent events, Gary police officials are advocating the use of gun boxes or gun locks to prevent future tragedies.