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 seriousness of the situation, the parent, who was driving the vehicle, promptly contacted 911 and began heading toward Fairmont to seek medical assistance for the injured toddler.
In response, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office took swift action, with deputies intercepting the vehicle near the 1800 block of 120th Street. They administered immediate first aid to the injured child before arranging for an air ambulance to transport the toddler to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for advanced medical care.
Reports have confirmed that the older child found the weapon in the backseat of the vehicle, leading to the accidental discharge. An ongoing investigation is focused on determining how the firearm came to be in the car, with the primary concern being the well-being of the two-year-old.
The possibility of criminal charges related to this incident remains uncertain at this time. Should charges be deemed appropriate, the Martin County Attorney’s Office will oversee the case.