Another day in America, another toddler shoots his “responsible gun owner” parents. In this case, everyone involved was fortunate enough to live to tell about it.
According to KOB-TV, Justin Reynolds and his girlfriend Monique Villescas were staying in an America’s Best Value Inn, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday, along with their 3-year-old son, and two year old daughter, when the incident occurred. Reynolds says that they were about to order pizza, when he heard a gun go off. He describes what happened.
It was like if I was to get up shake your hand and sat back down. That’s how fast it happened. All of a sudden we heard a gun go off and the next minute I realized my girlfriend was bleeding. Then I sat down and realized I was shot too.
Albuquerque police say the boy took a 9mm handgun out of his mother’s purse, and fired one shot. That shot struck Reynolds in the buttock, exited around his hip, then struck Villescas in her right shoulder as she sat next to their two year old daughter. Reynolds says that he called 911, then grabbed some towels to try and stop his girlfriend’s bleeding.
Reynolds was treated and released from the hospital, but Villescas, who is eight months pregnant, is hospitalized in stable condition. Doctors are keeping Villescas for observation, in case she should go into labor early. The 3-year-old child who fired the gun and his 2-year- old sister are in the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. The Albuquerque Police Department says that the district attorney’s office will review possible charges of criminal negligence against both parents.
Police issued a statement, saying in part:
The Albuquerque Police Department cannot emphasize enough that if you choose to be a gun owner ALWAYS secure and lock up your firearm out of the reach of children and adolescents.
Which is something you would expect “responsible gun owners” to already know, wouldn’t you?
Here’s a report, from KOB:
Image via SandraRose.com
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