Detroit, Michigan: 2-Year-Old Boy in Critical Condition After Shooting With Unsecured Gun on Evergreen Road

A 2-year-old boy is in critical condition at a Detroit hospital after he was shot inside a west side home on Tuesday morning with a gun that police say belonged to his mother and was not secured.

The shooting happened at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3, in the 12900 block of Evergreen Road near West Davison, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said at a news conference outside the home. Officers had responded to the home on a report of a child shot, FOX 2 Detroit reported.

What the chief said happened

Bettison said the boy's mother was eating breakfast when she heard a loud pop and found her son shot. "The mother ... was eating breakfast at the time and heard a loud pop sound, and ... discovered the child shot," Bettison said. A 4-year-old boy, the toddler's brother, was also in the home and was not hurt.

"We don't know the exact circumstances of what occurred, but what I can tell you is it's another case of an unsecured firearm inside of a residence," Bettison said. The gun belonged to the child's mother and was registered in her name. "This is mom's gun," he said.

The safe storage law

Bettison urged parents and all Michiganders to lock up their firearms, as the state's safe storage law requires. The law took effect in February 2024. Under it, a gun owner who fails to properly lock a gun that a child later uses to injure themselves or another person can be charged with a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $7,500. If a child uses an unsecured gun to kill another person or themselves, the owner can face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

"Secure your firearms ... whether it's a gunlock, or a gun safe, it's your responsibility to secure your weapons. And if you don't, you'll be held accountable," Bettison said.

Mayor responds, and free gun locks

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield issued a statement on Tuesday. "A 2-year-old should be playing, laughing and discovering the world, not fighting for their life because an unsecured gun was within reach. My heart is with this child and their family," she said. "I am heartbroken, and I am angry. Our children cannot be expected to understand the danger of a loaded gun. But the adults responsible for keeping it out of their reach know better, and there is no excuse."

Sheffield reminded Detroiters to keep firearms unloaded, locked and stored securely, with ammunition stored separately. Free gun locks are available at Detroit police precincts, she said. Bettison said locks are available in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, at the department's 6th Precinct, and the state health department lists 184 locations across Michigan where free gun locks are distributed.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among Michigan children and adolescents between the ages of 1 and 19. About 1,500 Michigan residents die each year from firearm injuries, and about 2,900 more suffer serious nonfatal firearm injuries, the department says.

Police have not released the child's name, and investigators are still working out exactly what happened inside the home. Police did not announce any arrest or charges in the Tuesday reports.