Florida school officer arrested after 3-year-old son shot himself with her gun
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida school police officer was arrested Sunday after her 3-year-old son accidentally shot himself with her gun inside their home.
The mother, and Miami-Dade Schools Police officer, Stephanie Jerez, was charged with child neglect with great bodily harm, the Homestead Police Department said.
According to NBC affiliate WTVJ, Jerez was preparing food at their home when the child found the firearm and shot himself in the foot shortly before 2 p.m.
The 3-year-old was airlifted to a Kendall hospital, where is reportedly in stable condition.
When deputies arrived, they found the gun on a kitchen counter with a “large amount of blood nearby,” WTVJ reported. The firearm was personally owned and not her service weapon, Homestead Police confirmed.
No clothes? No problem: Nude cruise to set sail from Florida next year
“The Homestead Police Department takes cases involving child endangerment very seriously, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and well being of all children in our community,” the department said in the statement. “The Homestead Police Department urges all gun owners to securely store firearms and to educate themselves and their families about gun safety.”
Jerez was relieved of her duty pending the outcome of the investigation, Miami-Dade County Public Schools said in a statement to WTVJ.
“Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is aware of a non-school related incident involving a Miami-Dade Schools Police officer that occurred over the weekend. The officer has been arrested by the Homestead Police Department. The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department has relieved the officer of duty pending the outcome of the investigation,” the statement read, according to WTVJ.
Man breaks into Palm Harbor home, kills ex’s mother, then himself, deputies say
Jerez appeared in court on Monday, where a judge set her bond at $5,000. She was also barred from using, purchasing, or possessing firearms or ammunition, unless it’s work-related, according to the station.
“Stephanie Jerez’s son is recovering well. The judicial system and police department will understand that this is a tragedy that does not require additional punishment,” Jerez’s defense attorney, Robert C. Buschel, said.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
