Chosen Morris, Davenport, Florida 4 year old boy accidentally shoots self dead after finding mom & dad’s ‘unsecured’ loaded gun in front seat of car. Will Quinta and Robert Morris now face charges?
And yet again. The parents of a 4 year old Polk County, Florida boy face potential charges after their son coming across a loaded, ‘unsecured’ handgun in the family car and ‘accidentally’ shooting himself dead, after pointing the weapon at his head and dislodging the trigger.
Quinta and Robert Morris of Davenport, Florida, both 32, found their son, Chosen, unresponsive, Friday night, circa 6.30 p.m, after telling police they heard a ‘pop’ and thinking one of their children had broken something, WTVT reported.
The parents rushed the boy to AdventHealth Heart hospital. Chosen Morris was transferred to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where he mortally succumbed to his gunshot injuries, Saturday afternoon, WESH reported.
A gun violence tragedy that could’ve been averted
Police said the family had been getting ready for an evening outing, Friday night, when Chosen managed to get into the garage and then into the car. Cops said the boy found the loaded weapon, a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber handgun under the driver’s seat.
‘This is a tragic accident. As a father and grandfather, I can’t imagine what Mr. and Mrs. Morris are going through right now,’ Davenport Police Chief Steve Parker said. ‘Our prayers are certainly with the Morris family as they endure this heartbreakng tragedy.’
It remained unclear why the weapon had not a child lock or had been kept in safety box, locked glove box or locked center console.
Section 790.174, Florida Statutes, requires a loaded firearm in the home to be stored in a locked box container or secured with a trigger lock if the owner reasonably knows that a child under the age of 16 can gain access to the firearm, without permission.
A violation of the above law is treated as a misdemeanor.
Cops have to date not indicated what charges, if any, the boy’s parents may now face.
Police said the parents are cooperating with investigators.
A news conference on the incident is set for Monday, 2pm local time.
