A police officer in Virginia is going through firearm costs after his 2-year-old son by accident shot himself with a gun his father left sitting on a sofa.
When Newport Information Police Officer Stefhone Christian McCombs Sr., 25, returned from work on October 29, he allegedly took out his absolutely loaded 9mm semi-automatic Glock from his holster and positioned it on a sofa in his lounge, in accordance with a report from the Each day Press.
His youngsters got here dwelling about 5 hours later at about 9 p.m. However McCombs allegedly forgot that the gun was left unsecured on the sofa, in accordance with a prison grievance.
Whereas within the kitchen, McCombs heard a loud gunshot and ran to the lounge, the place he discovered his son— Stefhone C. McCombs Jr.—crying and bleeding, the newspaper reported. He drove his son to Mary Immaculate Hospital, the place he died of his accidents.
Throughout an investigation into the taking pictures, the officer instructed investigators that he doesn't usually depart weapons unattended throughout the attain of his youngsters. However when officers searched his dwelling, they discovered one other gun unsecured on a kitchen counter, in accordance with the Each day Press.
The daddy first started serving as a police officer in September 2020 and has been on paid administrative depart because the incident. He's charged with a misdemeanor of permitting entry to firearms by a minor, going through as much as one yr in jail. He's anticipated to look in courtroom once more on March 16.
Newport Information Police Chief Steve Drew defended solely charging him with a misdemeanor to the newspaper.
"After I have a look at the totality and the steadiness and the humanity aspect of issues, there isn't any penalty, no charge, no high quality, no sentence, no something that may exchange the lack of your youngster," Drew stated. "This was an error in judgment. It is a tragic, tragic occasion, and my coronary heart breaks for that household. I did not wish to sensationalize that."
It is the most recent instance of kids acquiring entry to a gun earlier than by accident taking pictures themselves. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises mother and father that if they have to preserve weapons within the dwelling, they need to all the time be unloaded, locked and in a spot the place youngsters can't entry them. Ammunition ought to be positioned in a separate spot.
On Christmas Eve, a 2-year-old in Missouri obtained entry to a gun, by accident discharging it and fatally taking pictures himself. In January, a 4-year-old boy died after a gun discharged within the backseat of a automotive whereas adults smoked marijuana within the entrance eat.
Newsweek reached out the Newport Information Police Division for remark Saturday afternoon, however didn't hear again by publication. This story might be up to date with any response.
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