Two children were injured in what is believed to have been an accidental shooting today in St. Elmo.
St. Elmo Police Chief Jeremy Scruggs says they responded to a call of a 4 year old child being shot. Chief Scruggs says upon arriving on the scene they learned the father was said to be cleaning his gun and there was a round in the chamber and the gun went off. The bullet struck the arm of the 4 year old child—going in and out of the child’s arm—and then struck the forearm of a 5 year old child, as the children were sitting next to one another. Chief Scruggs says the children were taken to St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham. The 4 year old was later airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital while the 5 year old was later taken to a St. Louis Hospital by ambulance. Chief Scruggs added they are non-life threatening injuries.
Chief Scruggs also says all guns were seized from the residence and they are reporting all information to the State’s Attorney’s Office. No arrests have been made as of this time. Chief Scruggs added this an isolated incident, looked to be an accident, and there was no threat of any kind to the public.
Number one, why were you aiming your gun at your children while cleaning it? We all know not to point guns at people, especially children. Come on now. 2, why were you not checking to make sure there was no bullet in the chamber first? This guy simply shouldn’t be allowed to possess firearms anymore. That is very sad.
Exactly