November 16, 2020 to January 31, 2021 (77 Days)
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GUN ACCIDENT JOURNAL VII (77 days) November 16, 2020 to January 31, 2021 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2020 In Columbus, Ohio, a 23-month old toddler found a loaded gun in his home and shot himself in the stomach. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. Several adults and other children were reportedly in the home when the accident occurred. No arrests have been reported. Source: “Toddler Taken To Ohio Hospital After Apparent Accidental Shooting,” KDKA 2 Pittsburgh (November 16, 2020). TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 In Luther, Oklahoma a 74-year old grandmother was shot in the back and killed in an accidental shooting. Her name has not been released. According to police, five people were inside the home were the accident occurred. A family member was holding a gun that was believed to be unloaded. The gun accidentally discharged. There is an ongoing investigation. Source: Hicham Raache, “Grandmother Fatally Shot in Luther, Possibly Accidental,” Oklahoma’s News4 (November, 18, 2020) . WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 An 11-year old died in a gun accident in Texarkana, Texas today. His death marks the second time this week that a Texas pre-teen died in an accidental shooting. In both incidents, a boy was using a gun belonging to an older sibling. Ó The Gun Accident Journal (2021) GUN ACCIDENT JOURNAL VII (77 days) November 16, 2020 to January 31, 2021 Roland Toney, the boy shot in the Texarkana incident, had taken his brother’s gun. When his brother attempted to take it back, the gun accidentally fired. An autopsy is in process. Roland’s obituary runs as follows: Roland was the sweetest and most kind-hearted child who loved with all his heart. Roland loved Jesus and would pray with his Maw many times. He always talked to his Maw, brother, and sister about so many things and was never afraid to say what he was feeling or thinking. He always made sure to make everyone laugh; he was a true comedian through and through. He brought joy and cheer to all of our hearts daily. His hobbies included camping, fishing, and of course lots of sports. He always enjoyed playing his game console, and taking care of his pets. Most of all, Roland always made sure he told his Maw every day and night “I love you so so so much” and in return he always heard his Maw say the same. Roland is now in heaven with Jesus waiting and smiling! Source: “Texarkana Child Dies when Sibling Tries to take Gun Away,” KTBS 3 (November 19, 2020). Obituary, “Roland Elijah Toney,” Chapelwood Funeral Home (September 30, 2009 -- November 18, 2020). THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020 When a Kansas City, Kansas man lost control of his motorbike and crashed, a gun in his waistband fired and struck him in the hip. He was then also struck by another vehicle whose driver fled the scene of the accident. Police arriving at the scene discovered a bag of methamphetamine. Although the man’s injuries were not considered life-threatening, he was charged as a felon in possession. Source: Travis Meier, “Man with Meth Crashes Bike, Accidently Shoots Self and Gets Hit by Car in KCK,” Fox 4 (November 20, 2020). FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 Two men and a 10-year old boy were hospitalized with wounds suffered in accidental shootings today. Very little information is available about what happened in any of these gun accidents. Ó The Gun Accident Journal (2021) GUN ACCIDENT JOURNAL VII (77 days) November 16, 2020 to January 31, 2021 In Bourne, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, a man was accidentally shot while cleaning his gun. He was hospitalized in Rhode Island with non-life threatening injuries. A Caldwell, Idaho man suffered injuries from what investigators called a self-inflicted accidental discharge. He was taken to a local hospital. The 10-year old accidentally shot himself in Phoenix, Arizona. An unidentified woman was home with him at the time of the accident. The boy was hospitalized, but is expected to survive. It’s not clear how he obtained a gun. Sources: Beth Treffeisen, “Bourne Man Accidentally Shoots Himself while Cleaning Gun,” Cape Cod Times (November 21, 2020). “Man Injured in Accidental Shooting at Caldwell Apartment,” KTVB 7 (November 20, 2020). David Baker, “10-year-old Finds Gun and Shoots Himself, Phoenix Police Say,” azfamily.com (November 21, 2020). SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 In Kearns, Utah, 16-year old Roman Karpunin was accidentally shot and killed by his 18- year old friend Kaden Christiansen. Christiansen was arrested and charged with a single count of manslaughter. According to the arrest report, “Christiansen told police he was ‘mimicking being a police officer and arresting’ the 16-year-old when he pulled the trigger, thinking the gun was on safety and not loaded because he had removed the magazine.” The single round hit Karpunin in the back. Source: Jonah Napoli, “Update: Victim Named in Accidental Shooting Over the Weekend in Kearns,” Fox 13 Salt Lake City (November 23, 2020). SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2020 In Houston, Texas, a man who was watching T.V. in his living room was accidentally shot in the face by a neighbor who was cleaning his gun. The bullet went through a wall and a Ó The Gun Accident Journal (2021) GUN ACCIDENT JOURNAL VII (77 days) November 16, 2020 to January 31, 2021 window before it struck the victim, according to police. The victim was flown to the hospital where he remains in critical condition. "There's two pistols laying on the table, one is disassembled, the other one has had the magazine removed from the gun," explained a police sergeant. "It's a type of pistol that you basically have to pull the trigger to remove the slide. If you don't sit there and confirm that the chamber is empty, you'll have an accidental discharge. It's actually pretty frequently that happens." Source: “Man Shot by Next-door Neighbor Accidentally, HCSO Says,” ABC 13 Eyewitness News (November 23, 2020). MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 A hunting accident in Hartford, Arkansas killed 14-year old Newt Hodge and wounded his 21-year old brother. While the boys were loading a deer they had killed into a truck, a rifle leaning on the truck fell and discharged. The bullet passed through Newt and struck his brother Kasey in the shoulder. Arkansas Fish and Game announced that this is the second fatal hunting accident in the state this year. There were also two fatal accidents last year. The report does not state what type of gun was involved in the accident or explain why the gun discharged without a trigger pull. Source: “14-year-old Dead Due to Hunting Accident in Sebastian County,” 5News (November 24, 2020). Ó The Gun Accident Journal (2021) GUN ACCIDENT JOURNAL VII (77 days) November 16, 2020 to January 31, 2021 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020 In Forney, Texas, a 14-year old boy was taken into custody after accidentally shooting and killing his 1-year old neighbor at her home. A 9-year old was also injured. At the time of the incident, four children were in the home. No adults were present. The 14- year old was charged with ‘Unlawful Carrying Weapons’ and ‘Making a Firearm Accessible to a Child,’ both Class A Misdemeanors.” He was taken to a juvenile detention facility. Source: “Juvenile Arrested After Shooting Death Of 1-Year-Old In Kaufman County,” 11/21 CBS DFW (November 24, 2020). WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 In a story made more complicated because two witnesses initially lied to police, Devin Black, a resident of Powell, Tennessee, was accidentally killed by a gunshot wound to the head. Two witnesses initially told police that Black had been killed by a “black man in a hoodie” who then ran away. In a search, Police found no signs of any such suspect. The two witnesses then admitted they had lied and that black had shot himself in the head while playing with the gun. Both were arrested and are being held on a charge of making false reports to police. Source: “KCSO: Two Charged for Lying to Officers after Powell Man Found Dead with Gunshot Wound,” 10News (November 27, 2020). THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2020 On Thanksgiving Day, a three-year old in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan found a gun in a bedroom at his home and shot himself in the head. He is in critical condition at a local hospital. Ó The Gun Accident Journal (2021) GUN ACCIDENT JOURNAL VII (77 days) November 16, 2020 to January 31, 2021 "There’s really no words to describe it in most cases like this,” said Grand Blanc Township Police Chief Ron Wiles. “These are preventable with taking some precautions." "We need to be responsible gun owners,” he added. “Have these discussions with your kids, make them aware of what firearms are. But take that next step in properly secure and store those firearms as well.” Source: Rachel McCrary, AnnMarie Kent, “Police Chief Stressing Gun Storage Safety after 3-year-old Shoots Himself,” WNEM.com (November 27, 2020). FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020 For the second day in a row, a three-year old boy found a gun at home and shot himself. Today’s accident occurred in Isbell, Alabama. The boy was airlifted to a hospital where he is in stable condition. Authorities have not said whose gun the boy found or why he was able to fire it. Source: William Thornton, “3-year-old Accidentally Shoots Himself in Franklin County,” Ala.com (November 27, 2020). SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2020 In Hamilton, Montana, 51-year old Steve Burgess died when a rifle accidentally discharged inside a vehicle.