Toddler shoots self after getting hands on babysitter’s gun, Michigan police say

A Michigan toddler got his hands on a gun and shot himself while at a babysitter’s house, the Warren Police Department said.

Officers responded to a 911 call from a home on Warren’s south side at 6:06 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, police said in a news release, and they arrived to find a 2-year-old child with a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Investigators said the child was at the home of a 42-year-old woman who was babysitting him. She has a concealed pistol license and had two handguns at the address, according to police.

The toddler shot himself with one of the babysitter’s guns, police said, though it’s not clear where the firearm was or how the child was able to get to it.

The toddler was taken to a hospital, is in stable condition and “at last check, was responsive and alert,” police said.

Officials didn’t say if the babysitter will face any charges, though an investigation is underway.

“Investigators will be examining the details surrounding the safe and secure storage of the handgun as part of their investigation. As of this point in the investigation, it does not appear that more serious foul play was involved,” police said.

Warren’s mayor, Lori Stone, is expected to speak at an afternoon press conference at the police department Monday, Aug. 5, officials said.

Warren is a roughly 20-mile drive north from downtown Detroit.

This story was originally published August 4, 2024 at 12:50 PM with the headline "Toddler shoots self after getting hands on babysitter’s gun, Michigan police say."