If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Child help National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised
MIAMI, FLORIDA: Orlando Young, 23, was the one to leave a gun unattended on the couch to celebrate a touchdown, leading to the tragic incident of a three-year-old Florida girl named Serenity accidentally shooting herself after picking up the firearm on Saturday, September 23.
Young was arrested and slapped with charges of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm in connection with the unattended firearm, as per WSNV.
What led to the three-year-old accidentally shooting herself?
Serenity, the three-year-old victim, was seated on a couch next to a male relative who was engrossed in a football game, and seconds later, she picked up the gun when he jumped up to celebrate a touchdown. In a moment, the gun discharged, injuring her hand.
Notably, the harrowing moment of her grabbing the unattended firearm and shooting herself was caught on camera. Her grandmother, Robin Fuller, shared the distressing video on social media, shedding light on the incident and the neglectful circumstances surrounding it.
The girl was rushed to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, where she underwent surgery and subsequently began her healing process.
Unattended firearm alters lives forever
The post of Serenity's grandmother, Robin Fuller, bearing the caption, "Video of when my granddaughter shot herself at her OTHER GRANDMA HOUSE," garnered attention across various platforms.
In the surveillance footage, Serenity can be seen grabbing the firearm left unattended on the couch. The three-year-old was supposedly under the supervision of her other grandmother, but only Serenity, Young, and a reportedly disabled adult were visible in the video.
Young momentarily left the firearm unattended to celebrate a touchdown, inadvertently setting the stage for the devastating accident.
"It looks as if she is getting ready to pick up the gun, the gun went off and I guess the bullet went through her finger," said Fuller. While the outcome could have been far worse, the young girl was released from hospital on Tuesday and hopes that her finger can be saved.
Young made a court appearance on Monday and is anticipated to return. He faces an additional charge for engaging in a physical altercation with another inmate, as reported by WSVN.
In response to the incident, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) initiated an investigation, as is customary in cases of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
