FOUR OAKS – The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office says a 2 year-old child accidentally shot himself while inside his home. The child is in the hospital today undergoing treatment for his injuries.
At 9:28pm Monday, deputies were dispatched to 113 Brookside Lane near Four Oaks for a reported shooting.
Deputies arrived to find the child suffering from a gunshot wound and his parents providing treatment. The child was alert while being treated, authorities said.
Johnston County EMS arrived and transported the child to Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. At last report, the 2 year-old was in stable condition.
In a press release, Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Caldwell said family members who were at the scene were interviewed and through interviews it was determined the child had obtained access to a firearm inside the home. After gaining access to the firearm, the child discharged the weapon resulting in an accidental self-inflicted wound. Detectives along with crime scene investigators responded to the scene to continue the investigation, Captain Caldwell said.
The shooting is being reviewed by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office along with the District Attorney’s Office.
This is the second self-inflicted shooting of a small child in Johnston County in less than a month. On October 16, 2022, Warren Bennett Oser died after fatally shooting himself in the head while playing with a loaded handgun he found inside a pickup truck behind the family home on West Watson Road, Benson. On October 31, Warren’s father, Warren Tyler Oser, was charged with failure to properly and safely store firearms to protect minors.
Prayers for the baby boy and his family!
That’s 2 for 2 in the last month, in the some people shouldn’t own guns in JoCo category. Luckily this child wasn’t killed. The gun owner should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I’m all for gun rights, but not for gun stupidity. One child had the right to live and the other has the right to live without injury.
Another responsible gun owner who can’t secure his firearms. I hope they throw the book at him.
You have to be safe with firearms in the house with small children.. Period
People if there is the possibility of children being in your presence, please keep your weapons in a secure place. Prayers for this child and the family.
I was wondering why all the other news agencies in the area had reported this story, but nothing here. Afraid of the conments? Not your typical guns first and lives last like you expected from the usual crowd.. which changed when the other boy got killed. Glad to see some commom sense still lives here. Extremely pleased to hear this two year old is alive….now charge whoever did not properly secure the firearm.