A tragic accident has left a 6-year-old boy in critical condition in Lakeland, Florida. According to the Lakeland Police Department, the little boy accidentally shot himself in the head on Sunday afternoon after finding a gun inside a parked car.
The incident happened just before 3:45 p.m. on Crawford Street. Officers say the child got into the vehicle, found the gun, and the unthinkable happened. He was rushed to Lakeland Regional Health, where doctors are doing everything they can to save him.
As of now, police are still investigating, and no charges have been filed yet. However, they emphasized the importance of gun safety and keeping firearms out of reach of children. This heartbreaking event is another reminder of how easily preventable these kinds of accidents are.
Freddy Barton, who works as the Executive Director of Safe and Sound Hillsborough, expressed his frustration over these ongoing tragedies. “Every new year is supposed to bring fresh hope, but here we are, dealing with the same devastating issues,” Barton said.
The issue of accidental shootings involving children isn’t new, but it’s something Barton says shouldn’t still be happening. “People think, ‘It won’t happen to me,’ but it can. And it does,” he added.
This recent incident comes on the heels of another tragedy in St. Petersburg, Florida. On Christmas Eve, a 12-year-old boy accidentally shot himself at home. St. Pete police said his mother had just stepped out for a moment and wasn’t aware of where the gun came from. Assistant Chief Michael Kovachev from the St. Petersburg Police Department called it a troubling reflection of how easily firearms are accessible. “The fact that a 12-year-old could even get their hands on a gun says a lot about the issues we’re facing,” he said.
According to the nonprofit group Everytown, there were over 400 accidental shootings involving children in 2023. In 2024, the numbers have been similarly alarming, with at least 314 incidents so far, leading to 120 deaths and 199 injuries.
Barton pointed out how social media plays a role in normalizing gun culture among kids and teens. “You see kids posing with guns online, trying to look cool, and younger kids want to copy that,” he explained.
Lakeland police are urging gun owners to be responsible by securing their firearms, especially avoiding leaving them in vehicles. They’re also asking parents to be more vigilant—checking their kids’ school bags, rooms, and belongings to prevent curiosity from turning into a tragedy.
Barton believes that lawmakers in Tallahassee need to step up when they meet in March. He wants stricter laws to hold gun owners accountable if their negligence leads to a child getting hurt. “This can’t keep happening,” he said. “We all need to do our part—parents, gun owners, everyone.”
This heartbreaking situation is a wake-up call for communities to take stronger action to protect children from preventable tragedies.
