(TX) 2-year-old boy wounded when gun goes off

[Drizzt]

2-year-old boy wounded when gun goes off

Hays County child picked up gun at grandfather's house, authorities say.

By Miguel Liscano

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, November 15, 2004

SAN MARCOS -- A 2-year-old boy suffered a fractured skull Sunday afternoon after shooting himself in the head with a .38-caliber revolver in a Hays County home, according to the sheriff's office.

Sgt. Allen Bridges said the injury to Robert Lawrence Kerley II was not life-threatening: The bullet grazed the right side of the child's head.

He was being treated at Austin's Brackenridge Hospital, where Bridges said the boy underwent a CT scan.

Bridges called the shooting accidental. He could not say whether charges will be filed in connection with the incident.

About 3:20 p.m., the child apparently picked up the pistol while at his grandfather's home in the 12000 block of U.S. 290 West in northern Hays County, Bridges said.

Emmitt Glass, the grandfather, was baby-sitting the child and three other grandchildren when the gun went off in Glass' bedroom, Bridges said.

"The grandfather was in the kitchen, heard the gun discharge, went and found the 2-year-old next to the weapon laying on the floor," Bridges said.

It was not clear Sunday who owned the gun or how it had been stored.

Bridges said late Sunday that he did not know the ages of the other three children or where they were in the house at the time of the shooting. It was also unclear whether the children were siblings and where their parents were when the child was wounded.

Family members could not be located for comment Sunday.

 

[reagansquad]

Unlocked guns and 2 year olds don't mix.

 

[middy]

I'm suprised the grandfather didn't end up in the hospital bed next to him after a heart attack!

Dumb***. Lock up your guns or keep them on your hip when there are kids around!

 

[Bigfoot]

No more babysitting for gramps.
Glad the kid survived.

Think one the other kids pulled the trigger while playing around and ran?

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Dang, what is it with ND's, recoil 'accidents' and Central Texas kids?


Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[jefnvk]

Why is it always pointed at the kids head when it goes off? I've never heard about a little kid shooting themself in the foot.

 

[artherd]

Uh, how the hell did he find the stregenth to pull a revolver trigger?

 

[SteveS]

Some 2 year olds are pretty strong. My daughter is 2 and I think she might be able to pull the trigger, though I am not interested in finding out. The story should have been titled "Boy shoots self in head...grandfather is a dumb a**"

 

[Stickjockey]

Why is it always pointed at the kids head when it goes off?

I noticed that the first time I showed him my collection, my 3-yr old was amazingly curious about just what was in that little hole in the end of the barrel. Needless to say he never found out, but I'm sure that's the first place he would have looked had I not been there.

 

[Tag]

The grandfather was in the kitchen, heard the gun discharge, went and found the 2-year-old next to the weapon laying on the floor

I can't imagine. Hope everything turns out ok.

 

[Old Fuff]

I too have doubts that a two-year old child's hand(s) is big enough to hold on to the revolver's grip, reach the trigger with his finger(s) and pull the trigger through a long, heavy double-action stroke. Apparently no adult was present when the shot went off, but I have to wonder about the other kids in the house.

In any case - yes - the gun should have been secured.

 

[El Tejon]

jefnvk, I think it is always pointed at their heads because from what I've seen the kids pick up the pistol, turn it around and use their thumbs to work the trigger and are usually watching the cylinder turn.

I feel ill. Thinking about all the ways my nephews have to hurt themselves and now this.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I'm with Old Fuff and artherd; how does a 2-yo have the hand strength to pull a DA trigger?

I'm wondering if this isn't a case of 'journalistic license'; perhaps the firearm was actually a .380 semi-auto? I've seen plenty of journalists mistake .38 for .380 in print (don't get me started on the '40mm pistol'...).

To me, this seems more likely. Unless the kid was eatin' his Wheaties.
In Kali, the Grandfather would have been charged. I know the idea behind the law is to get parents/gun-owners to secure their firearms, but somehow charging someone right after an incident like this seems like extra salt in the wound. I imagine that Grandpa is punishing himself enough right now. Not to mention the parents.

 

[Evil_Ed]

It's very easy for a 2 year old to fire a revolver...just think like a 2 year old. use both hands to cock the hammer and then the trigger is very easily pulled. Another way (four a DA gun) would be for the kid to turn the gun over and put all his/her weight on the trigger. Guns are by NO MEANS kid proof and should be kept far away from children unless they are under close supervision while handling them. A good friend of mine came close to popping his dad with his dad's service pistol one afternoon when he was 3 or so, his dad figured the pistol was safe enough to set on the bed while he went to the bathroom. Upon exiting the bathroom he found his son holding a cocked pistol waving it around and going "pow, pow." He was able to retrieve the gun without it discharging but I would bet he had to return to the bathroom afterwards to clean himself up, I know I would. Needless to say they were better stored after that.

 

[Wayne D]

jefnvk, I think it is always pointed at their heads because from what I've seen the kids pick up the pistol, turn it around and use their thumbs to work the trigger and are usually watching the cylinder turn.

I feel ill. Thinking about all the ways my nephews have to hurt themselves and now this.

EXACTLY!!! Their fingers aren't strong enough so they hold the gun with both hands and push the trigger with both thumbs! Of course you know where this points the muzzle!

 

[tyme]

Karma would have the kid out of the hospital and gramps in.

 

[jefnvk]

Ah! That makes sense. And it would explain why the kid was a ble to pull it.