TAMPA, FLORIDA — On Saturday afternoon, a 5-month-old baby in Tampa was accidentally shot by a three-year-old child, resulting in non-life-threatening injuries, according to reports.
The mother of the three-year-old, 25-year-old Paula Marie Concepcion Santos, reported to the Tampa Police Department that her child had accidentally fired the firearm after obtaining it, according to Fox 13.
Santos was charged with child neglect with great bodily harm, and investigators have not disclosed the nature of her relationship to the children.
Chief Mary O’Connor emphasized the importance of securing firearms, stating, “Children should not be able to access firearms, and moreover, guns should always be stored in a locked safe with the ammo stored separately. Don’t put the life of a child at risk by being careless.”
The incident serves as a reminder to all parents and guardians to take necessary precautions and secure firearms.