MISSION, Kan. — A bullet from a Glock 9mm gun narrowly missed a little boy’s heart when he shot himself on Thursday after getting ahold of the gun his father was cleaning.
The accident happened around 3 p.m. in the 6900 block of West 52nd Street at the Foxridge apartment complex. T
Police say there were three adults home at the time of the shooting, including the boy’s father, a roommate and the roommate’s fiance. The mother of the boy was not at the apartment at the time of the shooting but rushed to the hospital when she learned what happened.
Police, along with the community, are relieved that this boy is expected to survive,. The bullet went through the child’s left arm, pierced his abdomen and exited his body near the top of the buttocks. Police say the bullet missed his heart by only a few inches.
They also urge everyone to remember to pay attention at all times if there’s a gun in the house.
“He was about to clean the gun, sat it down, did not maintain control of it and the child was able to get his hands on the weapon,” said Capt. David Moloy with the Mission Police Dept.
Moloy said people should always treat firearms as if they are loaded, never leave a gun unattended and store them along with ammo in a secure location.
“Anytime you have anything potentially dangerous especialy a fire arm you have to treat it with respect,” Moloy said.
Police are providing the Johnson County Prosecutors office with reports to determine if charges should be filed against the father.
