4-Year-Old Shoots, Kills 2-Year-Old Brother After Mistaking Gun For Toy

LOUISA COUNTY, Va. – Tragic news hit a county in Virginia when a 2-year old child died this Tuesday. His older brother, 4, accidentally shot him with a gun he thought was a toy, according to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.

You may be asking yourself the same question that I am. How did the 4-year-old boy have access to the weapon that he fired Tuesday morning? The lack of supervision, allowed him to strike his 2-year-old brother, Tyler Aponte, directly the chest, according to Major Donald A. Lowe.

“It’s of paramount importance to make sure your guns are secured and out of the reach of children and everything,” Major Lowe said. “At least have them unloaded or a safety lock on them, whatever you have to do to keep them from being discharged accidentally.”

Later, authorities revealed that the duos mother was in the home when this occurred.

“It will be thoroughly investigated,” Major Lowe said. “Our heart breaks for this family… they’re devastated, naturally, so we want to do everything we can to help them.”

Personally, my heart does not break for this family because it breaks for the child who was senselessly killed. No responsible gun owner would dare leave a loaded gun out in the open especially if there are young children roaming around. I do not enjoy hearing about how irresponsible people can be and it is such a tragedy when its something that could of been prevented.

We need to stop giving people a slap on the wrist and start charging people with the crimes that they commit. When people take on the responsibility of owning a weapon, they should be held liable for their negligence. If any adult or child is in possession of a deadly weapon that does not belong to them, it should be enough grounds to at least suspend the owners fire arms license too.