A 4-year-old boy has been hospitalized after he found a gun inside his family’s Rancho Cucamonga home and accidentally shot himself, police confirmed on Saturday.
At 7:19 p.m. on Wednesday, the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department responded to a call about a shooting that had just happened in the 800 block of Haven Avenue.
Deputies arrived to find the young child suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was transported to a local hospital. Police did not reveal what condition the boy was in, but said he is expected to survive.
According to the preliminary investigation, the 4-year-old found a gun that was “left unsecured in his parent’s bedroom,” and accidentally fired it, shooting himself in the stomach. Police said that a Children and Family Services report was completed, and that all firearms were taken from the home “for safekeeping.”
“We urge all gun owners to take this unfortunate incident as a reminder of the critical importance of safely securing all firearms,” the department wrote in a release. “Please ensure guns are stored properly and kept out of the reach of children.”
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to reach out to the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station at 909-477-2800.
To remain anonymous, callers can contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
