An 11-year-old was accidentally shot in the face by a sibling with an unsecured gun on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and is in critical condition after being left home alone in Detroit's west side, Police Chief Todd Bettison said.
Bettison, visibly frustrated, said at the corner of Belton and Artesian:
"We have talked about this. This is so preventable − I don't know what else I can say," he told the media, emphasizing that free gun locks are available at every Detroit police precinct.
"Time and time again, we're here, having a press conference, about our precious young people finding a weapon. And we know that children are fascinated with guns because of the video games that they play."
Bettison said a neighbor on Artesian heard a gunshot from next door and
called police around 2:20 p.m. When police responded, they discovered three children, ages 11, 9, and 4, left home unsupervised with several guns inside.
Bettison didn't elaborate on the whereabouts of the parents when the child was shot, but did say that they are devastated, and that "no one is above the law."
And as for the siblings who witnessed the tragedy, they're traumatized, he said.
"What kind of support are we providing for the three children that have been impacted? No one's asking that question. Police are going to do their job, the prosecutor's going to do her job, but the most important individuals right now are the three babies who are irreparably traumatized," said Teferi Brent of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety.
When media arrived at the scene, the neighborhood streets were already flooded with community violence interrupters with Force Detroit, educating the neighbors about gun safety and passing out gun locks. Mental health professionals were on scene ready to provide trauma support. Police chaplains were there praying.
"This is a community response, and we're just going to wrap our arms around the block here," Bettison said.
No arrests have been made, Bettison said. The child remains hospitalized in critical condition. And as the news conference concluded, an ice cream truck could be heard rolling down the block.
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 11-year-old accidentally shot by sibling in west Detroit home
