A Fort Pierce family endured a harrowing incident when a two-year-old child accidentally shot their mother. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has confirmed the events that unfolded Thursday night, and the incident is currently under investigation.
As reported by WPBF, authorities responded to a call at HCA Lawnwood Hospital after the woman was admitted with a gunshot wound. The injury, sustained in the leg, was caused when the child accessed an unsecured firearm left by the father on a bench within their home located in the 2600 block of Grey Twig Lane, Fort Pierce.
The mother, standing in the kitchen and washing dishes at the time of the accident, was struck by the bullet that had passed through a wall. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the potential negligence of leaving firearms accessible to a young child, a concern highlighted by Criminal Defense Attorney Patrick McKamey. "This could have easily been a very different discussion. Mom could have died. The child could have shot a sibling, and they died,” according to a CBS12 interview.
While an investigation ensues, no arrests have been made. However, concerns around the potential consequences of such neglect are compelling. "Children find it they tend to put things in their mouths just like puppies. And you can have terrifying, fatal consequences as a parent, and it's 100% preventable," McKamey told CBS12. The Department of Children and Families is now involved, and the legal process may yet unfurl as it seeks to address the question of culpability.
If negligence charges are brought forward, a third-degree felony charge could carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. As of now, the mother's current condition post-incident is not known.
