Indianapolis boy, 3, shot himself in hand in latest accidental shooting
A 3-year-old from Indianapolis was admitted to Eskenazi Hospital Friday morning after shooting himself in the hand, becoming the latest example of an alarming trend in the city.
Accidental shootings in Indianapolis have increased significantly compared to recent years, showing an increase after the state’s permitless-carry law went into effect in July 2022, according to the latest data from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police.
More:Beech Grove’s father has been jailed after the boy brandished a gun during ‘On Patrol: Live,’ records show
Shortly after the law went into effect, the city saw a 46% increase in accidental shootings compared to previous years, and it’s a statistic experts say isn’t slowing. In the overwhelming majority, the trigger pullers shot themselves.
Since early 2023, Indianapolis police officials have said the trend hasn’t abated to the point Police Chief Randal Taylor addressed the public in a video calling for gun safety.
“Those who own firearms have a responsibility to use them and handle them safely,” he said.
Friday’s shooting comes about a month after a child in Beech Grove got his hands on a firearm at his home. A 4-year-old was seen on live TV waving a gun around an apartment complex, once pointing the gun at his face. An officer asked the child to take her to where the gun was kept and took her to the living room on a rolling table under a television. According to court records, the gun had 15 rounds in the magazine and none in the chamber.
Marion County prosecutors charged the boy’s father, Shane Osborne, with neglect and said in the court filing that he endangered the child’s life by leaving him unattended and with a loaded handgun.
As of Friday afternoon, police had announced no arrests or charges over the 3-year-old’s shooting, which took place on the 1600 block of Blankenship Drive on the south side of town.
The rise in accidental shootings has prompted police to push for gun safety
For Indianapolis police, the rise in accidental shootings and the case of the 3-year-old underscores the importance of responsible gun ownership.
“The message we want to send to gun owners is to take those extra precautions, especially if you have kids in the home, and to practice good gun guarding,” Officer William Young said.
Police recommend treating any firearm as if it were loaded. For gun owners, they recommend gun locks and safes. For those who have children, officials said they should keep ammunition separate from their firearms. They stressed that leaving a gun on a high surface like a counter or on top of a refrigerator is not enough.
“That doesn’t mean a kid can’t get there,” Young said.
Gun bills at the Indiana Statehouse
A number of bills related to gun locks and security will be weighed at this session at the Indiana Statehouse. HB1347 calls for a state income tax credit for gun owners who undergo qualifying gun training or purchase a suitable gun storage facility. Another bill, HB1471, requires gun owners to keep their guns locked and unloaded and keep their ammunition in a separate location. Violators may be charged with a level 6 felony.
Gun safety was the subject of a recent rally held at the Statehouse by members of the anti-gun violence group Moms Demand Action. Attendees met with state lawmakers Wednesday to rally support for a range of gun safety laws.
“We’re not asking you to take away your handguns,” said Becke Bolinger, a gun safety advocate and mother of four. “We ask that you lock them up to protect your child and your neighbors.”
Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or [email protected]