ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — A 2-year-old is in critical condition after accidentally shooting themself in Rocky Mount, and police have charged the child’s 17-year-old uncle.
On Monday at 11:19 p.m., Rocky Mount Police responded to Nash General Hospital for a shooting victim. When officers arrived, they found the toddler with a gunshot wound.
The incident happened on Nelson Street, where police say a gun was left unattended. The 2-year-old found the firearm and accidentally fired it.
The 17-year-old faces charges including possession of a handgun by a minor, possession of a stolen firearm, and failure to store a firearm to protect minors.
The Rocky Mount Police Department is working closely with the Nash County District Attorney’s Office to determine if additional charges are needed.
Rocky Mount Police Department (RMPD) Captain Walter Keeter said during a Tuesday press conference that the 17-year-old uncle brought two semi-automatic handguns into the home—one reported stolen from Cary. Several people, including the child’s parents, were in the house but not in the same room during the shooting.
Gerald Givens Jr. understands the family’s pain firsthand—his own two-year-old cousin died years ago in a similar situation after gaining access to his father’s gun.
“Guns are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in our country. Not car accidents, not illnesses—guns,” Givens told ABC11. “A two-year-old should never be able to have access to a firearm. This tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of unsecured weapons in our homes.”
Givens founded Raleigh Boots on the Ground, an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of gun violence in the community. He hopes more adults realize how important safe gun storage is.
“It’s up to the adults. It’s not the children’s responsibility to ensure firearms are secure. No child should have to carry the burden of adult negligence when it comes to gun safety,” he said.
The group urges adults to store guns in safes or use gun locks, keep weapons unloaded, and store ammunition separately. They also encourage parents to talk with their kids about gun dangers.
“Every child deserves to grow up safe. Every accidental shooting is preventable. We can and we must do better together,” Givens told ABC11 News.
