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Toddler Killed w/ Dad's Gun - Sobering Story in Atlanta
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:09 am
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:09 am
So yesterday, there was a story about a 2 year old being shot and killed in apartments not that far from here. I assumed it was an accident and the father was later (last night) charged with what amounts to murder and criminal negligence for an unsecured firearm. Happens with some regularity in the Atlanta area and most urban areas I assume, usually in predictable situations (very neglectful/reckless "parents"). Most of the time, those stories are pretty easy for me to discount on account of the parenting style, if you will.
But this story is pretty sad, and got my attention today as a dad/gun owner who thinks about this stuff a fair amount:
- Mom and dad get back from an appointment where dad was carrying off body. Dad puts his fannie pack on dad's bed.
- Dad puts the son down for a nap in son's room, giving him dad's phone to look at while he goes to sleep.
- Son comes in and tells dad the phone died, asks dad to go lay with him while he goes to sleep.
- Dad tells son to go to his (Dad's room) to rest and he'll be in in a moment.
- Son finds pistol and shoots himself.
My practices would avoid this, but it's a much closer call that the normal scenario on the news. And it's tragic. There's just no margin for error, and I'm a rabid 2A guy. Might be a good reminder for others with little kids to revisit and retighten their processes if needed.
But this story is pretty sad, and got my attention today as a dad/gun owner who thinks about this stuff a fair amount:
- Mom and dad get back from an appointment where dad was carrying off body. Dad puts his fannie pack on dad's bed.
- Dad puts the son down for a nap in son's room, giving him dad's phone to look at while he goes to sleep.
- Son comes in and tells dad the phone died, asks dad to go lay with him while he goes to sleep.
- Dad tells son to go to his (Dad's room) to rest and he'll be in in a moment.
- Son finds pistol and shoots himself.
My practices would avoid this, but it's a much closer call that the normal scenario on the news. And it's tragic. There's just no margin for error, and I'm a rabid 2A guy. Might be a good reminder for others with little kids to revisit and retighten their processes if needed.
24
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:12 am to Pettifogger
I lost my best friend at the age of 13 from a situation like this. She was at home with her sister, mom was at work. Went mess with mom's gun, ended up shooting herself by accident.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:12 am to Pettifogger
How is it a closer call?
Don’t throw your gun on the bed where you are putting your toddler
Also why did the 2 year old need a phone to chill out?
Society is fricking retarded
Don’t throw your gun on the bed where you are putting your toddler
Also why did the 2 year old need a phone to chill out?
Society is fricking retarded
This post was edited on 2/19/26 at 11:14 am
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:13 am to Sun God
good reminder, don't put a loaded firearm and a toddler together.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:14 am to Pettifogger
Heartbreaking. Have to stay aware with little kids, this is a good reminder. I think murder is a stretch, though. I can see criminal negligence, but dad gets to live with it the remainder of his life. That’s punishment, if he is a decent father. Sometimes letting one marinate in their mistake is the best punishment.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:19 am to Pettifogger
I have 2 pistols and have my CC. I keep both of them in lockboxes and don't carry regularly. I will probably end up donating them in the near future because of so many stories like this. I also know several people who have lost teen children to suicide as well - almost always coming from a father's gun.
If something like this happened to me, I don't know how I'd go on. I just don't...
If something like this happened to me, I don't know how I'd go on. I just don't...
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:19 am to Dixie2023
I imagine most of the stories like this in Atlanta don't involve dads who care very much at all. I only have what the police report says, but I imagine the type who tells their son he'll lay with him until he's asleep don't fall into that bucket. So I'm sure nothing the law can do to him matters particularly much right now.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:19 am to Pettifogger
That’s awful. Mine are in a safe whether at home or in the car, and I don’t keep a round in the chamber unless I’m carrying.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:20 am to Pettifogger
I don't understand putting the gun on a bed. Either put it away, or up high- top of fridge, mantel, bookcase, entertainment center, etc...
I don't agree with going easy... even if a legitimate "accident", parents need to learn to do better. Intention doesn't mean shite when the kid is still dead.
I don't agree with going easy... even if a legitimate "accident", parents need to learn to do better. Intention doesn't mean shite when the kid is still dead.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:20 am to Pettifogger
This is the reason I mostly stopped carrying while I had young children. I did not trust myself to always... immediately put the gun back in the safe every time I returned home. Especially with kids I was afraid of getting distracted and setting it down for second to unload groceries or some other distraction and a tragedy may occur. I would still carry occasionally for late night gas station runs but not every day.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:21 am to Giantkiller
quote:
I have 2 pistols and have my CC. I keep both of them in lockboxes and don't carry regularly. I will probably end up donating them in the near future because of so many stories like this. I also know several people who have lost teen children to suicide as well - almost always coming from a father's gun.
Well, with little kids, it is 100% preventable, of course. I understand the inclination that you don't want to live in a zero margin for error state, though.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:21 am to Giantkiller
quote:
I also know several people who have lost teen children to suicide as well - almost always coming from a father's gun.
This... gotta keep as close an eye on teenagers as toddlers.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:24 am to SallysHuman
quote:
I don't understand putting the gun on a bed. Either put it away, or up high- top of fridge, mantel, bookcase, entertainment center, etc...
Yeah. Personally I think there is some risk of becoming a little too lackadaisical by relying on (very practical) methods like this (as an alternative to a proper safe/box), but yeah, it obviously helps.
Your toddler is highly unlikely to get to a weapon there, or rack a slide, so forth.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:25 am to Pettifogger
quote:
Happens with some regularity in the Atlanta area and most urban areas I assume
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:27 am to Pettifogger
I tried off body for a minute. It seemed riskier than on body for a number of reasons, so I went back. I'd rather have that constant reminder that it's on me, even if it is slightly more uncomfortable.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:27 am to Pettifogger
A four year old somehow managed to get a hold of a gun sitting in his mom's car in a Burger King parking lot about 2 miles from us yesterday. Shot himself in the hand. Thankfully non life-threatening injury.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:29 am to Pettifogger
No. Nothing the law can do to him, really. If I caused that I’d probably follow my child. I don’t think I could live with myself. Praying for this situation.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:34 am to Pettifogger
Why the hell was it chambered??
Edit: ok fine, why was it STILL chambered*
Edit: ok fine, why was it STILL chambered*
This post was edited on 2/19/26 at 3:10 pm
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:36 am to ThuperThumpin
quote:
This is the reason I mostly stopped carrying while I had young children. I did not trust myself to always... immediately put the gun back in the safe every time I returned home. Especially with kids I was afraid of getting distracted and setting it down for second to unload groceries or some other distraction and a tragedy may occur. I would still carry occasionally for late night gas station runs but not every day
This. My son is super curious and all over the place and he loves messing with stuff. I took almost all of the firearms out of the house and store at my dads until the kids are older. Its too much to worry about. I keep limited guns in the house that are locked and absolutely nothing in the vehicles unless I have a specific reason, which I rarely do. I'd rather take my chances with the world than risk a situation like the one described above.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 11:37 am to Pettifogger
quote:
- Mom and dad get back from an appointment where dad was carrying off body. Dad puts his fannie pack on dad's bed.
- Dad puts the son down for a nap in son's room, giving him dad's phone to look at while he goes to sleep.
- Son comes in and tells dad the phone died, asks dad to go lay with him while he goes to sleep.
- Dad tells son to go to his (Dad's room) to rest and he'll be in in a moment.
- Son finds pistol and shoots himself.
The bolded part NEVER should've happened before picking up that gun. When my gun is out of the safe, it is being used. It's back in the safe IMMEDIATELY upon not using it anymore. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, comes first before picking it back up in the safe and locking that safe. This is a tragic story and proves that accidents happen, but that dad is unfortunately at fault here. Why would he not pick it up immediately if he has kids in the house?
This enrages me.
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