A two-year-old boy has died after accidentally shooting himself with a firearm he reportedly found hidden between the cushions of a couch inside a home in Southern California, authorities said.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday at a residence in Highland, where deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of a child suffering a gunshot wound.
Emergency responders immediately began life-saving measures before the toddler was transported to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, the child was later pronounced dead.
According to investigators, the firearm had been concealed between the cushions of a couch, where the young boy allegedly discovered it before the fatal shooting.
Authorities said the child’s mother, 20-year-old Jamaria Cobb, and her 52-year-old boyfriend, Armand Bright, were inside the home when the incident occurred.
Following a preliminary investigation, both adults were arrested on felony child abuse charges. They are currently being held in custody, with bail set at $1.35 million each, as detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Officials also confirmed that another child was present in the home at the time of the incident. That child has since been placed in the care of Child and Family Services to ensure their safety.
The identity of the deceased toddler has not been released.
Investigators are working to determine how the firearm was stored and whether additional criminal charges may be filed as the case progresses.
The incident has renewed concerns about firearm safety in homes with young children, with authorities reminding gun owners to keep firearms unloaded, securely locked away and out of the reach of children to help prevent similar tragedies.
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