Child shoots child

A shooting in Laurens County sent one young child to the hospital Friday morning, according to the Laurens County sheriff.
A 3-year-old shot his 4-year-old brother with a .22-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun Friday at about 9:30 a.m., Sheriff Ricky Chastain said.

The child was airlifted to an Upstate hospital with a gunshot to the abdomen and was conscious during the flight, Chastain said. He underwent surgery and is expected to recover.

The shooting happened at a home in Gray Court, South Carolina.

Chastain said the boys and their father were at a family gathering Thursday and stayed overnight at a longtime family friend’s house.

The homeowner told investigators that he tried to childproof the home.

“The homeowner appears to have put up medicines and other things, but had forgotten he had the pistol underneath the bed he allowed the father and two boys to stay in,“ Chastain said.

The sheriff said it appears that the 3-year-old woke up, discovered the gun under the bed and accidentally shot his brother.

The gun was sent off to the S.C. Law Enforcement Division for testing, but Chastain said he believed the 3-year-old was the one that handled the gun because it had a weak trigger.

“Kids see things on TV, the toy guns, the 3-year-old probably didn’t know what he had as far as any intentions of hurting his brother,“ Chastain said. “This is something the family will be dealing with for some time.“

The sheriff said he suspects the child had no idea what the impact would be when he pulled the trigger but likely understands the result.

“I’m sure that he knows he has hurt his brother,“ he said.

He warned people to secure their guns around children. He said young boys in particular have a fascination with weapons because of what they see on TV.

“Squirt guns, cap guns, all these things they get their hands on,“ he said. “They get a real gun and may still think they have a toy gun that will shoot water or caps or something.“

The case is still under investigation; however it has been ruled accidental.

No charges have been filed