3-year-old boy shot in the head at Columbia apartment shows improvement, police say
The 3-year-old boy who was shot in the head at a Columbia apartment Tuesday might have fired the gun himself, police said.
The child was unresponsive when he and his mother were found by responding officers, the Columbia Police Department said Wednesday in a news release.
The 3-year-old was in serious condition when he was taken to an area hospital, police said.
The child had surgery on the gunshot wound to the head, according to the release.
He’s still in critical condition at the hospital but is showing signs of improvement, police tweeted.
The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. at the Colony Apartments in the 6600 block of Bailey Street, according to police. That’s near Prisma Health Richland, by the intersection of Farrow Road and West Beltline Boulevard.
Preliminary evidence shows the child found the loaded weapon in a bedroom in an apartment and he caused the gun to fire, according to the release.
Only the boy and his 22-year-old mother were inside the apartment when the gun was fired, police said.
Officers are continuing to investigate the firearm’s origin, how it got into the apartment, and why it was unsecured, according to the release.
The shooting is being investigated by the Special Victims Unit, and police said there’s no threat to the public.
Police said the mother is cooperating with investigators, and the case is ongoing.
Regina Williams, president of the neighborhood association in Booker Washington Heights, which is near the Colony apartments, and a North Columbia community leader, put out a statement saying “the Booker Washington Heights community is praying for the child and the family” of the shooting.
“We stand with the City of Columbia in it’s efforts to call for accountability on behalf of the owners of the apartment complexes to maintain, safe and healthy living spaces for not only the tenants, but also for the surrounding community,” Williams said. “This incident further validates the critical need for the development of a resource hub that will house resources to encourage child and family engagement.”
Serve & Connect, an organization that connects communities and police and that’s been working in North Columbia through the North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative, issued a statement saying “we were heartbroken to learn of the accidental shooting.”
“This incident highlights the importance of developing real solutions for addressing youth safety guided by a deep understanding of the underlying causes which can contribute to cases like this one,” said Kassy Alia Ray, CEO of Serve & Connect. “Trauma is a very real and present experience for many residents in North Columbia. This can lead to fear and a desire to protect themselves and their families.”
Ray said Serve & Connect is dedicated to helping find solutions that North Columbia residences “need to live safe, healthy and happy lives.”
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
FIREARM STORAGE SAFETY
▪ Firearms should be stored in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault or storage case
▪ The storage location should be inaccessible to children
▪ Use a gun locking device to render firearms inoperable*
▪ Ammunition should be stored in a locked location separate from firearms
* The Columbia Police Department offers free gunlocks
SOURCE: Columbia Police Department
SERVE & CONNECT’S FULL STATEMENT
“We were heartbroken to learn of the accidental shooting which left a 3-year old boy from the Colony Apartments in critical condition. This incident highlights the importance of developing real solutions for addressing youth safety guided by a deep understanding of the underlying causes which can contribute to cases like this one. Trauma is a very real and present experience for many residents in North Columbia. This can lead to fear and a desire to protect themselves and their families. Through our partnerships with police and community in North Columbia, we are committed to implementing sustainable solutions that ensure that families have the tools, resources, and support they need to live safe, healthy and happy lives. This is a process that takes time and investment from diverse stakeholders working with police to build a safer community for all. In the short term, we will support Columbia Police Department’s efforts to increase knowledge and accessibility of resources for gun safety through our diverse events, hosted as part of the North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative, and will keep the young boy who was injured, his family, and those who responded to this terrible incident in our hearts as we pray for a smooth healing process.”
Since November 2018, Serve & Connect has worked closely with the Columbia Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department to strengthen partnerships with community organizations and residents focused on improving youth safety as part of the North Columbia Youth Empowerment Initiative. The initiative has engaged over 200 individuals from over 80 organizations, and has reached an estimated 3,000 individuals through various outreach efforts.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 12:36 PM.
