A DeKalb County child's accidental self-shooting has resulted in charges against the father, Brandon Spruill, aged 34, for reckless conduct and cruelty to children. The incident, occurring last Sunday in an apartment complex on Turnberry Place in Stonecrest, brought officers to the scene around 4:45 p.m., after receiving emergency calls about the incident, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The young girl, whose age has yet to be disclosed, was taken to the hospital in stable condition. The shooting appears to be accidental, according to initial investigations by the DeKalb Police Department. Her expected survival provides a grim yet relieving backdrop to a situation that all too often ends in far greater tragedy.
11Alive shared that authorities have booked Spruill into the DeKalb County Jail on the aforementioned charges, with the police issuing a reminder that such an event could have led to more dire consequences for the family involved.
The DeKalb County Police Department, recognizing the frequency of such incidents within the community, reiterated their offering of free gun safes to local residents in several precincts across the county to prevent future occurrences, saying, "Let’s work together to make this a safe, happy holiday season," the efforts surely aiming to mitigate the risk of firearm-related accidents particularly as familial spaces begin to swell with holiday festivity and the inherent chaos that can sometimes follow, as per 11Alive. The safes are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at various precinct locations detailed in the statement by police.
