INDIANAPOLIS - Just before 8:30 a.m., this morning, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) were called to the 1600 block of E. 44th St. Reference a child and mother shot. When officers arrived, they came into contact with the father of the 4-year-old who stated that he and his fiancé were asleep when he was awakened by the sound of the gunshot. He stated that his daughter shot herself in the face, and it is believed that same bullet struck his fiancé in the back of the head. Indianapolis EMS responded and transported both victims to the hospital. The 4-year-old child was transported to the Riley Hospital and is listed in stable condition. The mother is currently in surgery at IU Health Methodist Hospital but was conscience and alert when she left the scene.
The father stated that his 2-year-old son was also in the room, but he was not hurt. There were other children in the residence but they were not harmed. Detectives are processing the scene and conducting an investigation into the circumstances that led up to the shooting. Investigators have recovered the handgun and submitted for evidence. Investigators have notified Child Protective Services for a separate investigation and the other children were released to the father.
IMPD would like to offer a few safety tips for gun owners to ensure the safest environment with guns and kids:
• Take the ammunition out of the gun.
• Lock the gun and keep it out of reach of kids. Hiding the gun is not enough.
• Lock the ammunition and store it apart from the gun.
• Store the keys for the gun and the ammunition in a different area from where you store household keys. Keep the keys out of reach of children.
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