“The death of any child is tragic, but when a child dies suddenly and unexpectedly, it becomes the responsibility of law enforcement investigators to determine whether any criminal activity may have been involved,” writes J. Robert Flores, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. In Missouri, in less than a week and a half, three children have died of gunshot wounds, two other teens also gunshot victims. The youngest victims are three years old, while the oldest child is thirteen. On Tuesday July 12, 2011, in a 2-hour period, one child died and two others injured.
Tragic Incidents Involving Children and Guns
The most frightening fact boils down to these being separate, unrelated incidents. In addition, four out of the five incidents involved a child finding a gun at home. The first incident happened when 3-year-old girl, Lilianna Moore, found a gun between two mattresses in the apartment she was living in Saint Louis city. Moore died July 12, from a self-inflicted a gunshot wound. There were adults home in another room when it happened.
The second incident occurred when 3-year-old boy, Daniel Metz, at his home in Maryland Heights found a handgun in a drawer. He died July 19, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The gun belonged to Ryan Metz, Daniel’s father. Ryan Metz is an officer for the Maryland Heights Police Department. Office Metz was working when his son died and the gun involved was not his service revolver, but a personal handgun.
The next day, a 5-year-old boy, Kaden Mallory, died of a gunshot wound to the head inflicted when his 10-year-old brother found a shotgun at their home in Belleville, Illinois. There was an adult male watching the children when the incident occurred. Going back to the first incident on July 12 after Lilianna Moore died, a 13-year-old East Saint Louis girl shot herself accidentally with a gun taken from her home. In O’Fallon, Illinois, an 11-year-old boy playing basketball with friends received gunshot wounds when someone approached the court from the street and fired into the crowd. Both children will recover physically.
Investigating Accidental Gunshot Deaths in Children
When a child dies of an accidental gunshot wound investigators have to decide whether a crime was committed. In the U.S. Department of Justice, Investigating Child Fatalities, when investigating an accidental shooting death of a child investigators must decide whether negligence on the parent or caretakers part occurred, and whether the person who owns the gun can be charged with a crime. Sadly, laws are complicated and despite the fact, three children are dead from accidental gunshot wounds after finding a gun in a home does not mean anyone actually committed a crime. Often when a child has died of an accidental gunshot, it is determined to be a tragic accident…and it is indeed tragic. Yet, accidents by definition are preventable.
Therefore, the looming question is why does this keep happening? Has society become so complacent with having guns around the home that parents are no longer teach basic gun safety to children? Are children simply so desensitized to the dangers a real gun poses because of playing with toy guns, water guns, cap guns, BB guns, and guns in video games? There are several very simple solutions to prevent accidental shooting deaths in children. Investing in a portable gun safe, using an external trigger lock, and enabling the safety mechanism built into the gun.
One of the easiest and safest ways to prevent this incident is to lock the gun up in a separate location from its ammunition. Finally, begin educating children at an early age regarding what to do if he or she sees a gun in or around the home. Coach children not to touch or move a gun, but to find and tell an adult immediately if he or she finds one. If an adult is not available, teach children to call 911 for help.
Free Gun Locks Available in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Area
The reality is these deaths were 100% preventable. That is perhaps the hardest part to understand. Not one of these children had to die this week. Whether it was simply laziness or carelessness on the gun owner’s part in not keeping a gun locked separate from the ammunition, locked in a gun safe or cabinet, of by using a trigger lock. Leaving a gun where a child can find it is unacceptable. Never assume a child will not be able to reach a gun placed up high because when kids see something that grabs their attention they will find a way to get it.
There are several places now offering free gun locks to gun owners in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Area, including, the Saint Louis Children's Hospital, the Saint Louis City Police Department, and the Florissant Police Department. If you live in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Area and have a handgun in the home, please get a gunlock or gun safe. Gunlocks are priceless when it comes to preventing the death of a child. However, when there is a gun in the home there is always a chance of someone being hurt or killed, whether intentionally or accidentally.
In the end, when a child dies after finding a gun in the home, the parent or caretaker has to live with the daily knowledge that he or she played an integral role in the child’s death. Is living with the knowledge enough punishment in itself or should a parent or caretaker be legally charged with negligence and face the legal consequences of their actions (if the law so allows)? If so, what consequences are acceptable in these situations?
Sources:
- U.S. Department of Justice, “Investigating Child Fatalities” (accessed July 20, 2011).
- STLToday, “St. Louis girl dies after apparently shooting self; 2 other children hurt in shootings” (accessed July 22, 2011).
- STLToday, “Boy, 5, shot to death in Belleville, police say” (accessed July 21, 2011).
- STLToday, “Son of Maryland Heights officer found gun in dresser drawer, police say” (accessed July 21, 2011).
Erika Lyn Smith - Erika Lyn Smith - is a Psych RN, who has completed the UMSL Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course, and is finishing a BS in ...
