The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the family’s home in Fairmount, about an hour northeast of Indianapolis, when Leighton Owings “gained access to a loaded Ruger nine-millimeter handgun” in one of the bedrooms, according to the Indiana State Police.
“Evidence indicates the boy pulled the trigger on the Ruger and was struck by a single bullet,” police said. Leighton was rushed to a hospital where he died.
Caci Seals, 22, the boy’s mother, was feeding an infant in another room at the time of the shooting.
State police said the results of their investigation will be sent to the Grant County prosecutor’s office for review.
The incident occurred days after a 5-year-old Georgia girl was killed after playing with a handgun in a bedroom while an adult was in another room leading to a 36-year-old man being charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children for leaving the gun unattended.
Firearms unattended should never be around children or people unfamiliar with their deadly effects! Lock them up or carry them with you with safety on!
Guns must be locked up!! What’s the matter with people?? Especially with young children around. Where is their common sense?? Those poor kids shouldn’t have died. The parents are dumb. It’s too late now. Let this be a lesson to others.