6-year-old is in stable condition after accidental shooting; Sumter sheriff's office investigating

Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner with Sumter County Sheriff’s Office led a news conference on Tuesday after a 6-year-old accidentally shot himself with his father’s handgun on Monday night.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on Oct. 13, a mother was in the master bedroom of a residence on Montana Drive while her son was “laughing and playing” in the same room. In this room was also a .45-caliber Glock that was normally kept on the dresser, according to an incident report by the sheriff’s office. 

The father later told deputies that it was kept there because of “the area they live in and things always happening.” 

The mother told investigators that while in the room, she then heard a “loud bang” and saw a flash of light. The child accidentally shot himself, suffering a gunshot wound to the lower right area of his face, the report said. 

The mother then grabbed the 6-year-old, felt his face and ran to the car with the child.

The father, who was also inside the home, told deputies he was washing dishes, as the family had just finished dinner, when he heard a single gunshot and the mother’s scream before running to the car. 

The pair began to drive to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital; at this time,emergency services had not been called by the parents, according to Gardner. 

While en route to the hospital, the parents noticed Sumter EMS in the parking lot of the Gate gas station on East Liberty Street. They pulled in and made contact with EMS. Deputies arrived shortly after being informed by dispatch. 

The child was taken to Tuomey before being transported to Prisma Health Richland in Columbia. As of Tuesday morning, the child was in stable condition. The child has autism and is nonverbal, Gardner said. 

The father of the child told deputies he is unsure if the weapon fell and how the child got possession of the firearm. 

Deputies later responded to the residence to secure the scene. An AR-15-style weapon was also inside the residence. 

“We're trying to figure out how the child came about having this handgun, how the child was able to obtain the handgun in the first place,” Gardner said. “A child being able to put their hands on that kind of a weapon at all in general should not occur.” 

Gardner said the agency is investigating the incident, taking into account the height of the dresser, if the weapon could have fallen and other factors. Charges of negligence or unlawful conduct toward a child are possible. 

Gardner emphasized “the No. 1 killer of children is a handgun.” He encouraged parents and adults to secure handguns where children cannot access them and investing in gun locks, which the sheriff’s office issues.