A 10-year-old boy was shot inside a parked car in Richmond County on Tuesday afternoon, and deputies arrested his mother at the scene, authorities said. The child was rushed to Wellstar MCG Health Center for surgery, and officials had not released his condition late Tuesday. Deputies say three children, ages 4 to 10, were inside the vehicle when the gun went off while their mother briefly stepped into a convenience store. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation.
Scene And Initial Response
Deputies were called to a report of shots fired at a convenience store on Gordon Highway at about 2:16 p.m. Tuesday. When they arrived, they found the 10-year-old with at least one gunshot wound, according to WSB‑TV. The boy was taken to Wellstar MCG Health Center for surgery, and his mother was detained at the scene. Jail records list her as being held on multiple child-cruelty counts, the station reported.
Arrest And Child-Welfare Notification
Investigators identified the mother as 27-year-old Deasia Lexus Williams of the 500 block of Hines Street and said she was arrested on counts related to leaving children unattended, as reported by the Augusta Chronicle. The outlet reports that the shooting happened at the Super Express at 1237 Gordon Highway and that investigators determined a firearm had been left inside the vehicle while Williams went into the store. Deputies also notified the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services, which is now involved in the case.
How The Shots May Have Been Fired
Deputies have not said publicly how the shooting unfolded and have not indicated whether the gunfire was accidental or intentional, according to WSB‑TV. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active as deputies interview witnesses and go through evidence gathered at the scene.
Broader Context
Unintentional shootings by children have been documented as a national problem. Analysis of Everytown’s #NotAnAccident index counted thousands of unintentional shootings by children from 2015 through 2021 and placed Georgia among the states with higher rates per million children. PubMed Central coverage of the Everytown index, along with statements from local advocates, points to unsecured firearms as a major factor in such incidents. The Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has urged caregivers to lock firearms and store ammunition separately after noting recent increases in child gun injuries across the state, and the group offers secure-storage guidance for clinicians and parents.
What The Charges Mean
Under Georgia law, cruelty to children in the second degree is defined as causing a child cruel or excessive physical or mental pain "with criminal negligence" and is treated as a felony in state court, according to state code and legal summaries. Case references compiled at Justia show that second-degree cruelty allegations can bring significant prison exposure depending on the facts, although penalties vary by case. Prosecutors are expected to review the sheriff’s findings and the child’s medical records as they decide whether to pursue any additional charges.
