Every year, nearly 3000 children and teens die from gunfire, and nearly 14,000 are injured.

Friday, February 7, 2014

3-year old South Carolina boy shoots himself to death with pink handgun he thought was a toy

Temorej Smith, age 3, and a comparable handgun
(source)
Three-year old Temorej Smith was in a home in Greenville, South Carolina, with his 7-year old
sister when they found a loaded, unsecured handgun in the bedroom.  Thinking it was a toy, he handled it, then fatally shot himself in the head.

His grandparents were in the next room at the time.

From an article and news article:
On Monday, police said the child and his 7-year-old sister were playing with a pink handgun, they thought was a toy, when the shooting happened. 
Fowler said that the child was in the bedroom and his grandparents were in the living room when the gun went off. 
Fowler said the child's parents were not in the home. 
According to Johnathan Bragg of the Greenville Police Department, when officers arrived at the apartment just before 8 p.m. Friday, they found the young child that had been shot. 
"If you have guns, if you own guns mostly we would prefer you have them in a lock box," Bragg said. "At least have them out of the reach of children." 
Bragg told News 4 no one was in custody and that the investigation is ongoing. Police have yet to say who fired the weapon.
Guns are lethal weapons.  They shouldn't be "cute" colors.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

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