A 15-year-old in Grand Rapids is the subject of a safe storage investigation after accidentally shooting themselves on Tuesday morning, according to police reports. The incident, which took place around 7:40 a.m. on the 1300 block of Sherman Street SE, resulted in the teenager sustaining a non-life-threatening injury to the shoulder, as detailed by WOODTV.

Grand Rapids Police Department Chief Eric Winstrom described the event as "near-tragic," suggesting that a small change in trajectory could have led to a much more dire outcome while emphasizing the importance of gun owners complying with Michigan's new safe storage law, noting the legal requirements for preventing minors' access to firearms, and free gun locks offered at various locations, "It's the law, you know. Almost a year now, it's been required that gun owners safely secure with either a gun lock or a safe," Winstrom said, per WOODTV. The police's dedication to follow through with criminal charges if deemed appropriate reflects an active enforcement stance taken by law officials.

In light of the recent event and the state's legislation which took effect in February, gun owners are required to keep firearms in a locked container or storage box when minors are known to be or likely to be present, underlining the urgency and gravity of gun safety in households. FOX 17 News notes a safe storage investigation has been initiated following the incident. This law aims to reduce the number of such accidents by mandating secure storage practices among gun owners within the state.