DETROIT – A 15 or 16-year-old girl was hospitalized after reportedly being accidentally shot by her 5-year-old brother on Detroit’s west side.
It happened at a home on Freeland Street, just south of Fenkell Avenue.
The girl was rushed to Sinai-Grace Hospital and she is expected to be OK.
Police said the gun was in a safe in the home, but the key was left accessible, allowing the boy to access it. The girl was shot in her arm and chest.
“I was hoping it was an error,” said Commissioner Tamara Smith. “Children do not understand life is life. It can be ended at any second. You need to lock your guns up. The guns need to not be in the presence of children.”
Authorities are pushing the importance of gun locks as a safety precaution that people can get for free from most law enforcement offices.
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital has resources for families who want to learn more about gun safety. They can be found here.