Another incident of a toddler getting a hold of a gun and firing it unintentionally has been reported in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A two-year-old boy discharged the firearm and struck his one-year-old sister resulting in the arrest of their mother.
CTV News reported that the mother was identified as 23-year-old Crystal Kinchen. She was arrested on Wednesday and was charged with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile. Sgt. L'Jean McKneely said in a statement that the shooting took place on Tuesday evening when Kinchen and the two children were with her inside a car. The car was parked at a parking lot of a Family Dollar store on North Foster.
The gun was said to be wedged between the driver's seat and the center console and that was where the two-year-old reportedly found it. It then accidentally discharged. Kinchen's daughter was struck and is said to be in critical condition.
Kinchen was with a male companion during the incident. It was unclear who the male is and to whom the gun belongs to. It was not stated what the relationship of the male is to Kinchen and to the children. Neither of the children were in a child seat or were wearing their seatbelt.
According to CBS News, Kinchen initially thought it was a firecracker but the male companion went on to discover that the woman's daughter was on the floor of the car. She suffered a gunshot wound but it was not stated where she was shot. The mother admitted that she was preoccupied on her cell phone when the shooting took place.
Kinchen and the male did not call 911 or wait for an ambulance. They instead drove to a hospital and took the girl there.
It was not stated by officials if the male companion will also be charged. There are no other details available as to when Kinchen's first court appearance is. It was not also clarified who's taking care of the two-year-old son since his mother is currently in custody.
