MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A two-year-old child is recovering at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the face with an unsecured handgun, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
SCSO detectives are investigating the incident which took place in the 2000 block of Garnet Road in north Shelby County at 10:15 p.m. Friday.
Upon the arrival of deputies, the child was reportedly alert and breathing but transported to Le Bonheur in critical condition by the Shelby County Fire Department.
Reports say he is now in non-critical condition.
A neighbor named Jerry, who has lived in the community for more than 30 years, says he is a great-grandfather and he knows how quickly things can take a tragic turn.
“Don’t leave a gun laying around and loaded, where a child can get ahold of it,” he said. “Well, people that’s got the babies need to do more to protect them.”
Off camera, neighbors described watching from their own front windows as deputies and other emergency crews responded to the home.
A man living nearby says things have been extremely quiet from hours earlier, as it is believed the family is still with the young boy being cared for.
Those living in Shelby County can get a free gun lock mailed to them. Because of limited supplies, you can only get one lock per household.