Fort Worth, TX – A young boy in Fort Worth is recovering in the hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the lower torso inside a home on Tuesday. Police say the shooting occurred after the child somehow gained access to a firearm reportedly stored in a gun safe.
Incident Overview
Officers were called to the residence after a 911 caller reported the boy was turning blue and pale. Emergency responders transported the child to a local hospital, where officials described him as stable later that night.
“Where and how you store a firearm matters,” said Eric Gonzalez of Cook Children’s Hospital, highlighting the importance of secure gun storage following the incident.
Investigation Details
Fort Worth police launched a shooting investigation and involved specialized gun-violence detectives to determine how a firearm, kept in a safe, became accessible to a child. Authorities have not released the home’s address, the child’s name, or whether any arrests or charges will be filed.
Potential Legal Consequences
Under Texas Penal Code §46.13, it can be a crime to make a firearm accessible to a child. Penalties for criminal negligence in failing to secure a “readily dischargeable” firearm range from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor if serious injury occurs. The law also provides certain defenses and special rules for family members, which can affect how authorities handle such cases.
Public Health and Safety Concerns
Local medical officials stressed safe firearm storage following the incident:
- Guns should never be stored under mattresses, in closets, or on high shelves.
- Cook Children’s Aim For Safety program provides gun safes and cable locks to families and runs community outreach to prevent unintentional shootings.
National research supports these warnings. Analysis from Everytown for Gun Safety found that states with firearm-locking laws see about 35% fewer unintentional child shootings than states without such laws, emphasizing the importance of secure storage and public education.
Conclusion
A Fort Worth boy remains hospitalized after accessing a gun stored in a home safe, prompting both police investigation and renewed emphasis from medical officials on safe firearm storage. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
