After suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound Sunday, a child was in stable condition at an area hospital Monday, according to Kansas City police.
Cops responded to a shooting just before noon Sunday, but by the time they arrived on scene, the mother had already rushed the child to the hospital.
According to police, the child's mother had left a loaded firearm unsecured in a bedroom, and the child, who is under the age of six, suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
"This was easily accessible for this child to pick up and accidentally harm themselves [sic]. Thank goodness this didn't end in a tragic, or more of a tragic manner," KCPD spokesperson Kari Thompson told KCUR.
Thompson urged gun owners to lock their guns. After a few similar cases last year, she said the KCPD is focusing on getting gun locks out into the community. The department provides free gun locks at all six area locations.
Because the victim is a minor, Thompson wasn't able to provide any further details about the case, including location, name, type of gun or location of injury.
As is standard procedure in cases like this, she said the Crimes Against Children unit is investigating.
Andrea Tudhope is a reporter for KCUR 89.3. Email her at andreat@kcur.org, and follow her on Twitter @_tudhope.
