On Sunday, October 15, in Martin County, Minnesota, a four-year-old child discovered and accidentally fired a loaded firearm, wounding their two-year-old sibling. The children were in the backseat of a vehicle during the incident.
Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, the children’s parent, who was driving, called 911 and began heading toward Fairmont to seek medical assistance for the injured toddler.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office responded, with deputies intercepting the vehicle near the 1800 block of 120th Street. They provided immediate first aid to the injured child before an air ambulance transported the child to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for further medical care.
Multiple reports confirm that the older child found the weapon in the vehicle’s backseat, leading to the accidental discharge. While authorities are still investigating how the firearm came to be in the car, the primary concern was the well-being of the two-year-old.
It is still uncertain whether any criminal charges will be filed regarding the incident. If charges are filed, the Martin County Attorney’s Office will handle the case.
This incident in Minnesota mirrors a similar recent event in Florida. In late September, a toddler accidentally shot herself with a handgun that a relative left unattended. Orlando Young, responsible for watching the child, told police he had temporarily left his gun on the couch, distracted by a touchdown on TV. Shortly after the incident, the toddler underwent surgery to reattach her finger at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Orlando Young is facing serious repercussions for his carelessness. Miami-Dade County court records show he was charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm.