A toddler from Philadelphia was accidentally shot by his cousin on Thanksgiving Day and is currently in critical condition. The two were playing with a gun around 4:23 pm and his mother was even in the area when it happened.
The victim who is only 2 years old was playing with his 4-year-old cousin who has a gun when the latter accidentally shot him in the chest. In an article published by ABC News, they reported that not only was the victim's mother, Rachel Santiago, was at home when the incident took place but also her boyfriend, Omar Laboy-Vega.
The toddler was first sent to Temple University Hospital. However, he was later rushed to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children due to his critical condition.
Based on ABC Philadelphia's report, both the victim's mother and her boyfriend were arrested in line with this incident. Both the children's name were not given out by the police due to their ages.
Santiago, 34, is now facing charges for child endangerment while 34-year-old Laboy-Vega is facing firearms violation. There is no further report regarding the current condition of the victim.
Parents who own a gun must be extra careful in handling it, especially when they know that they have children living with them. Just this year alone, about 51 gun incidents involved toddlers in America since Jan. 1 to Oct. 20. The Washington Post confirmed this statistic and it is a good wake-up call for everyone who owns a gun to use it responsibly.
It is not enough that gun owners know how to use it but it is also a must that they know all the safety measures involved with it to avoid accidents that could put a child's life in danger. Share this information with your loved ones today, so they too are aware of the consequences a gun owner could face of not handling it properly.
