Miami Gardens toddler shot himself with mother's gun in back seat of car, police say
A young boy was rushed to the hospital after he shot himself with his mother's gun early Wednesday morning at a Miami Gardens apartment complex, police said.
The complex is located at NW 210 Street and NW 22 Avenue, just north of Hard Rock Stadium and behind the Calder Casino.
Miami Gardens police said around 1:30 a.m. they got a call to come to the complex because a two-year-old boy had shot himself in the leg in a car in the parking lot.
"Our preliminary investigations revealed that the toddler was in the back seat of the vehicle, and he grabbed his mother's purse and took out the firearm and shot himself in the leg," Miami Gardens police spokesperson Diana Delgado said.
"Child protective custody is involved and between us and them, we are investigating. From there, depending on the outcome of that investigation, we'll know if the child will be released to the mother."
Neighbors heard the shot and then screams
Neighbors described hearing a single gunshot and then a woman screaming and crying out for help. They said when they went outside to see what had happened, they saw an injured child with a woman.
The child was taken to Joe Dimaggio Children's Hospital. He's expected to make a full recovery.
Those who live in the complex said they were saddened to hear what had happened.
"I have three children myself, to react to somebody, a child, an innocent child getting hurt, that says everything. There's no reaction to explain. If you have a sister or brother or a child gets hurt, like everybody, everybody hurts, we all bleed for that," Natasha Edge, who lives in the complex, said.
Neighbor Monique Wint said, "You have to be very careful. If you have firearms, you have to ensure that they are secured and know that when you have children. Be careful because children are curious and they can do anything, so you have to be careful."
It's unclear whether any charges will be filed in this case.
Surveillance video obtained by CBS News Miami showed police setting up a perimeter with crime scene tape.
Police remind all parents that children must be secured when in a vehicle and all guns need to be in safety mode and properly stored away from children.
