Prescott Valley PD: Young boy with autism accidentally shoots father

[AGXStarseed]

(Not written by me)

PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - A man is in the hospital recovering after being shot through the back by his 7-year-old son in what police are describing as an accidental shooting.

According to officials, shortly after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Justin West was shot while he was sleeping at his Prescott Valley home near Loos Drive and Ranger Road.

Officials say the man's son, who has autism, knew the gun was kept in a small locked safe in a closet and knew where the keys to the safe were kept. The child reportedly used a chair from the dining room to access the safe in the closet, took the gun, and shot his father. Police say he could not provide a reason for shooting his dad.

The man was flown to John C. Lincoln hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.

At the time of the shooting, the mother was sleeping in the living room with their 2-year-old and 7-year-old sons. Another 13-year-old son was in his room doing homework.

The investigation is ongoing.


Source: Prescott Valley PD: Young boy with autism accidentally shoots father

 

[Judge]

Seven years old. Hmmmm. Young kid playing with guns or something else? Yeah, it may take some time to figure out what happened and if there was any motivation.

But what's the point of having a gun safe if your own kids know how to get into it? Or did the 13 year old have normal access to it who shared what he knew with his little brother? Allowing your kids to handle firearms...I know it varies from one household to another. But giving any of them 24/7 unsupervised access ? I can't support that on general principle.

I'm still trying to figure out the story last night about a fourteen year old boy driving his grandmother's SUV, dressed up and equipped as a police officer using flashing lights and airguns to detain people on the road.

 

[VioletHaze_03]

Having autism is not an excuse to go and shoot anyone, regardless of the circumstances. It's not an excuse to be a careless parent either. You shouldn't have a weapon in your home, and if you do, your kids shouldn't know about or have access to it. doesn't matter if your kid is disabled or not, as a parent one should know better than to put a weapon in an unsupervised place where a child can play with it!