TAMPA, Fla. — A 3-year-old child accidentally shot a 5-month-old baby in the hip in Florida, and a woman in the house at the time of the incident was arrested, according to police.
In a news release, the Tampa Police Department said after 1 p.m. on Saturday officers were called out to a house after reports that a 5-month-old was shot in the hip. EMS immediately transported the child to a hospital.
According to WFLA, Paula Marie Concepcion Santos, 25, was the only adult home at the time of the incident. Santos allegedly told investigators that the 3-year-old toddler got a hold of a gun and accidentally fired it.
TPD said that the 5-month-old’s injuries are not life-threatening, and the baby is expected to make a full recovery.
“While we’re incredibly thankful this infant was not fatally injured, this should serve as a reminder to every parent or guardian to immediately go and check that their guns are properly secured,” Chief Mary O’Connor said in a news release. “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.”
Santos has been arrested and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm, according to TPD.
According to WFLA, the relationship between Santos and the children is not immediately clear.
No further information has been released, but TPD is continuing to investigate how the shooting happened.
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