4-Year-Old Hospitalized After Accidental Self-Inflicted Gunshot
A 4-year-old boy was hospitalized Saturday evening after an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound on the south side of Columbus, Ohio. According to police, the incident occurred in the 1600 block of Hanford Street. The child was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he is currently in stable condition.
Columbus Police say the boy told officers he had sat down on a piece of furniture that had a pillow on it. Underneath the pillow was a gun, which discharged when he sat down, striking him near his rear.
“Best we can tell, and this is from the child himself, he sat down on a piece of furniture, and that piece of furniture had a pillow on it,” said Sgt. Joe Albert. “There must have been a gun underneath that pillow, and when he sat down, the gun went off. Kind of close to his rear end.”
While police say the boy was able to clearly explain that the shooting was accidental, some neighbors expressed outrage and are calling for accountability from the adults in the home. “The city of Columbus needs to put a stop to it,” one neighbor said. “If the grownups got guns, hide them, get rid of them, do whatever. They don’t need to be around here.”
Police emphasized the critical importance of responsible gun ownership, especially in homes with children. Authorities confirmed that some of the child’s caregivers are now in custody as the investigation continues.
The accidental shooting of the 4-year-old boy infringes on the child’s right to protection from physical violence or injury, an obligation that requires caregivers to provide a safe environment free from preventable dangers.
It also undermines the child’s right to life, survival, and development, as access to an unsecured firearm placed his life in danger. Furthermore, storing a loaded gun within a child’s reach disregards the principle that the best interests of the child must come first.
These failures highlight the urgent need for responsible gun ownership and stronger safeguards to protect children in their own homes.
