4-year-old boy shoots himself after finding unsecured gun in Durham home, mother charged
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- A 4-year-old boy in Durham is in the hospital with serious injuries after accidentally shooting himself, the police department confirms.
Shortly before 7:30 a.m., Durham police responded to a shooting in the 1600 block of Greenbriar Road.
When officers arrived, they found the child with a gunshot wound.
A preliminary investigation showed that the child accidentally shot himself with an unsecured gun, according to police.
Monday evening, police announced the child's mother, Assante Moore, 44, has been charged with felony child abuse and misdemeanor permitting a child the use of a firearm.
Neighbor Brandon Biedermann said this about the accidental shooting, "You don't want to hear anybody experience that where even, like, a four-year-old with so much life ahead of them."
North Carolina has almost double the national rate of young people dying from guns, according to Deputy Secretary William Lassiter.
Lassiter is the primary spokesperson for NC S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively). The statewide initiative to raise awareness about safe storage has been rolling out since 2023.
"There's still more work to be done, but we are reaching out to all school districts in the state," Lassiter said. "We're really trying to encourage parents, don't let the thing that you bought to protect your home and family end up being the thing that harms your home or family."
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call Investigator D. Bussell at (919) 560-4582 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200.
This is the second time this month that a child apparently shot themselves with an unsecured firearm in Durham.
On Sunday, November 2, police responded to a home in Durham in the Hayti District near Spaulding Street and Linwood Avenue.
In that case, 52-year-old Patrick Daye was charged with permitting a young child to use a firearm.
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