LORAIN, Ohio - Lorain Police say 24-year-old Angelica Melendez said her three-year-old daughter was shot in the head by her four-year-old brother, who didn't know it was a real gun.
Police said the 911 call was filled with chaos and confusion caused by the dad who lied to police, telling them two men came to the door wearing hooded sweatshirts, shot at him and the "bullet struck the girl," according to the police report.
Police said the father was heard speaking in Spanish in the background, telling the mother to say men who were breaking in and fired a gun.
"He did make up a contrived story. I don't know if he was trying to protect the four year old or protect himself, if he's not allowed to have a handgun or not," said Lieutenant Roger Watkins.
Police said 27-year-old Jeremy Morales kept the loaded gun in a bedroom dresser and that a prosecutor will decide if Morales should be charged for not securing the gun and for lying to police.
"He could be charged with endangering children and it depends on whether the child makes it, and it's going to be up to the Lorain County Prosecutor," Watkins said.
"He COULD be charged????"
Police said the father was heard speaking in Spanish in the background, telling the mother to say men who were breaking in and fired a gun.
"He did make up a contrived story. I don't know if he was trying to protect the four year old or protect himself, if he's not allowed to have a handgun or not," said Lieutenant Roger Watkins.
Police said 27-year-old Jeremy Morales kept the loaded gun in a bedroom dresser and that a prosecutor will decide if Morales should be charged for not securing the gun and for lying to police.
"He could be charged with endangering children and it depends on whether the child makes it, and it's going to be up to the Lorain County Prosecutor," Watkins said.
You know what would make this a lot simpler? Proper gun control laws, including licensing of all gun owners and registration of all guns. If we had that, the responsible person could be easily identified.
"Cable locks are designed to prevent an accident. By law, cable locks are supposed to come with a new gun purchase, or you can buy one for about $10.
ReplyDeleteHoltz also recommends a gun safe. When asked about getting into a safe quickly, he said there are no excuses.
"I hear that argument all the time. You can get into the vault in less than five seconds," argued Holtz. "
http://www.19actionnews.com/story/27261669/preventable-tragedies-storing-guns-safely
I have one of those vaults, they work quite well.
But you think having such a gun safe should be voluntary?
DeleteYes. Some have no children to be concerned about. The house is already a big locked box. Everyone's situation is different.
DeleteContinued reports of children hurting themselves, or others with their parents guns prove gun loon idiots are not taking precautions. If they are to stupid then they must be forced by law.
Deletess, the half-a-million stolen guns each year make your everyone's-situation-is-different kinda silly and simplistic. Most of those guns are stolen from homes which are obviously not big locked boxes. All guns need to be in safes when they're not on your person.
Delete