A toddler in Texas reportedly gained access to an improperly stored firearm, potentially leading to a tragic incident where a two-year-old was shot in the head.
What was intended to be a relaxed family gathering outside Houston on Friday afternoon took a sudden and alarming turn with the sound of gunfire.
Authorities responded to the scene on Onaleigh Drive in the Channelview area, near the intersection of Woodforest Boulevard and Dell Dale Street, around 12:15 p.m., according to reports from Fox26.
In a conversation with ABC13, a man named Juan, who preferred not to disclose his surname, revealed that the injured child was his grandson.
“My wife entered our room in a panic, screaming for someone to call 911. She was so distraught she could barely speak, and her clothes were stained with blood,” Juan recounted to the news outlet.
According to police, about seven adults were present in the living room enjoying lunch, while the two young boys were left unattended in a bedroom.
Juan said he was sleeping when his wife woke him, demanding he call the police.
As the family rushed to the bedroom, they saw the four-year-old holding the gun as the two-year-old bled out. According to Click 2 Houston, the boys are not siblings.
Police officers were seen at the scene Friday afternoon as a preliminary invetigation unfolded
Harris County Police responded to a call outside of Houston after a two-year-old was shot in the head
Officials said the two-year-old was alert and speaking before being life-flighted to the hospital.
He underwent surgery in the intensive care unit and is now recovering in critical but stable condition. He is expected to survive.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez released a statement after the tragic events of the day, encouraging families to secure their firearms
The child’s mother, reported KHOU, was at work at the time of the shooting, but police said at least one parent was present.
Juan told police that the firearm belonged to a family friend, 25-year-old Santiago Daniel Canet. He was among multiple people at the scene who were visiting the home from out of town.
The traumatized grandfather claimed Canet’s gun had typically been stored on the top shelf of a closet. But investigators said it was unsecured and accessible to small children.
As a result, Canet was arrested and charged with making a firearm accessible to a minor. He was booked in the Harris County Jail.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the family secured the gun when police arrived and everyone cooperated with the investigation.
Multiple people were said to be visiting the home on Onaleigh Drive in Channelview, police said
Crimes Against Children Investigators were also at the scene. County officials said Child Protective Services may become involved.
The area around the home was taped off all day as police swarmed the scene, gathering preliminary information for the investigation.
As of Friday afternoon, Major Ben Katrib stated that the information was still very limited.
‘All of this information is preliminary, of course and subject to change,’ he told the press.
‘It’s always important to secure the firearm for anyone who is thinking about buying a firearm that does not have one,’ Katrib added.
‘If you have children or children might visit your home, they are spontaneous, they are curious. So if you do not have enough money to buy a safe or anything to secure the handgun or any firearm, then you should not buy it.’
Police said Santiago Daniel Canet was arrested following the discovery that he was the owner of the firearm. Canet was charged with making a firearm accessible to a minor
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez issued a statement after a second child was shot in a separate incident the same day.
‘Today is heartbreaking. Two children shot in separate incidents. Safe firearm storage saves lives,’ he wrote. ‘Lock it. Secure it. Keep it out of reach. This is about protecting our kids. We all have a role to play.’
A three-year-old suffered a gunshot wound in Houston on Friday afternoon, reported KHOU.
Investigators said the shooting was believed to be ‘negligent discharge,’ though it is unclear who may have fired the gun.
The child was taken to the hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive.
The Daily Mail contacted the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for more information.
