Miami-Dade County Schools officer arrested, 3-year-old son shot himself with her gun: Police
A 3-year-old Florida boy is in stable condition after shooting himself in the foot on Sunday with a gun owned by his mother, a Miami school police officer, according to authorities.
Homestead police officers arrived at the boy's home in Homestead, Florida after receiving reports of the self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the department's news release. During the police's investigation, they learned the boy found his mom's gun and shot himself in the left foot while she was preparing food, the release continued.
Police identified the boy's mother as an officer with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department. The mother personally owned the gun her son found, and it was not a service weapon, Homestead police said.
USA TODAY contacted Miami-Dade County Public Schools but did not receive a response.
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The boy was taken to a local hospital for initial treatment, but was later airlifted to a regional hospital for further medical care, police said.
As a result of the investigation, the mother was arrested and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm, according to police.
When detectives searched the mother's home, they found a recently fired gun and the officer's service radio in plain view on the kitchen counter, a police report says. There was no secure gun case, nor a holster present in the area, the report continued.
"The Homestead Police Department takes cases involving child endangerment very seriously, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children in our community," the police's release said. "The Homestead Police Department urges all gun owners to securely store firearms and to educate themselves and their families about gun safety."
Miami-Dade County Public Schools 'relieved the officer of duty'
The mother will remain suspended until Homestead police's investigation is completed, Miami-Dade County Public Schools said in a statement to WPLG.
“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 school district said. “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 boy's mother is currently in custody at Miami-Dade Corrections and does not have a set bond, according to inmate records.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami school officer arrested, son shoots himself with her gun: Police
