*UPDATE: since publishing this post yesterday, another fatal unintentional shooting has been reported. The numbers below have been updated.
In the first seven days of June, there have been 15 shootings resulting in 11 injuries and five deaths. All involved minor children with access to loaded firearms. Shootings involving kids and negligently-stored firearms generally spike in the summer months, however the number of incidents already this month, an average of 2 per day, is notable.
A 13-year-old boy is dead after being unintentionally shot in the chest by his best friend, another 13-year-old boy.
A 12-year-old girl was unintentionally shot and killed by a friend. The girl was home alone when a couple of boys came over. One had a gun and was playing with it when it discharged. The two boys — ages 13 and 14 — have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and being a minor in possession of a firearm.
http://www.cbs46.com/story/38373406/12-year-old-dies-after-shooting-inside-clayton-county-home#ixzz5HqC2zYeB
A 5-year-old little girl was shot by a sibling. She was transported to the hospital by helicopter. No other information was provided.
A 16-year-old was killed and a 17-year-old injured in an unintentional shooting. Police report that a group of individuals had been in a parking lot when a 40 caliber pistol was produced. The gun was not stolen. A single gunshot was accidentally discharged, killing the 16-year-old and injuring the 17-year-old.
A 12-year-old was injured in what police describe as an accidental shooting. The boy was taken to the hospital and was expected to survive. It is unclear whether or not the child’s parents were home at the time.
A 6-year-old child found a gun, which belonged to a friend of his mother, unattended on a table in his home and fatally shot himself with it. The gun owner has been arrested and charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
http://www.wave3.com/story/38365189/sheriffs-office-hardin-county-boy-6-accidentally-shot-himself-with-gun-found-in-home
Two 13-year-old boys were “messing around” with a handgun after midnight when the weapon was discharged. The victim was taken to the hospital where he remains in critical condition. Police say the gun belonged to the mother of the victim, who was in another room at the time of the shooting. Investigators learned that the firearms inside the home were not properly secured and were accessible. Charges are expected to be submitted against the child who was handling the gun when it fired, as well as against the mother for endangerment.
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-west-valley/glendale/police-glendale-teen-shot-while-messing-around-with-gun
A 13-year-old boy unintentionally shot and killed his 2-year-old brother while playing with a gun and was charged with reckless homicide. The victim’s father was charged in federal court with being a felon in possession of a gun.
A 4-year-old girl picked up what she thought to be a toy gun and shot one round that hit her left index finger. The finger later had to be amputated. It’s alleged the parents routinely kept multiple handguns in the closet, some of which were kept loaded. Children’s toys were also allegedly kept in the same closet. No gun safe was found in the home. The parents face charges of second-degree child abuse, obstruction of justice, and lying to a peace officer in a violent crime.
A 5-year-old boy was unintentionally shot and critically injured by his 8-year-old brother. The gun belonged to the boys’ uncle, a licensed gun owner. Deputies also found an AK-47, a shotgun and parts for an AR-15-style rifle under a mattress. The gun owner has been charged with misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and allowing a minor to access a firearm.
The chief says a group of at least eight juveniles was at a home near a park, and somehow a shot was accidentally fired by one of the juveniles, who was reportedly unfamiliar with the weapon. The shot struck the male victim, who is 14 or 15-years-old, in the thigh.
A 14-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound to his wrist and chest when he was accidentally shot by a friend. Upon questioning, the shooting victim admitted to officers that his 14-year-old friend had accidentally shot him while they were at the friend’s home. The sheriff’s office says the friend confirmed the story when he was confronted. Criminal charges may be filed after the investigation is completed.
A 6-year-old unintentionally shot themselves. Investigators determined that there was no foul play on the part of the adults responsible for the child; however, details on what happened are unclear at this time.
https://www.dailyworld.com/story/news/local/2018/06/01/police-investigating-shooting-involving-6-year-old/664309002/
A 7-year-old girl was accidentally shot in the neck by another child. a juvenile whose gender nor age was released was playing with the gun when it discharged, striking the 7-year-old girl. No additional information was provided.
A girl was playing with her father’s handgun when she accidentally shot another girl in the chin. She had been joking with friends that her father would shoot any boy who bothered her. She then retrieved her father’s Taurus 9 mm handgun from the bed stand drawer. She removed the ammunition magazine, but apparently racked a bullet into the gun’s chamber in the process. She was holding the gun when it discharged as she turned around in response to her name being called by one of the other girls. The father later told police his daughter knew where he kept the handgun. No charges have been filed.