JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The father of a 2-year-old child who was accidentally shot on the Westside on Easter was arrested in connection with his son’s death. Now, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has put out a message to raise awareness about gun safety.
The April 20th shooting happened on Calvary Drive in the Wesconnett neighborhood. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office found the toddler with a single gunshot wound.
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He died at the hospital, JSO said.
Upon the investigation, JSO learned that the father did not properly secure the gun, according to police.
JSO did not say where the toddler found the gun.
On Thursday, the 31-year-old father was arrested on child neglect and culpable negligence charges.
“Safe firearm storage around minors is not only common sense—it is the law in Florida. Children are our most precious resource‚" the sheriff’s office said.
JSO issued tips to gun owners to keep curious kids protected:
- Use a safe or lockbox to store firearms.
- Gun trigger locks are inexpensive and effective.
- Even if you don’t own a gun, ask about firearm storage in the homes your child visits.
- Teach your children: if they ever come across a gun, they should stay away and tell an adult immediately.
“If you own a firearm, take every precaution to protect your loved ones. This is literally a matter of life and death,” JSO said.
JSO also shared statistics on firearm deaths among children and teens.
According to HealthyChildren.org, firearms are now the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens under the age of 18. Research shows that about half of unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and teens between 2001 and 2021 occurred in the home—often when kids were playing with or showing a gun to someone else. In many cases, the firearm was a handgun accessed from a nightstand or sleeping area.
