Boy finds shotgun in liquor store, kills self accidentally

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.wgntv.com/news/local/breaking/chi-boy-dies-from-gunshot-at-beecher-liquor-store-20110721,0,1393118.story?track=rss

Staff report

11:49 p.m. CDT, July 21, 2011

A 4-year-old Indiana boy was pronounced dead this afternoon after he accidentally shot himself at a liquor in south suburban Beecher, officials said. snip

The boy was identified as Ash Wimbley of Cedar Lake, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office. He was taken to St. James Hospital and Health Centers in Chicago Heights where he was pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m., the spokesman said.

The boy apparently found a loaded shotgun behind a store counter.

----------------------------

My wife and I drove past this store yesterday when the ambulance and police were still there. Thought there had been an armed robbery or something. What a tragedy.

[ingac70]

1. There is no way....

I can point the barrel of a SHOTGUN at myself and pull the trigger and I am an adult (arms too short). Am I suppose to believe a 4 year old could?

[pipoman]

2. I thought the same thing

even a coach gun would be difficult for a 4 year old. The proportionate length of a child's arm, who is under the age of 5, would make it even more difficult. I'll wait to see if any and what charges may be filed.

[alphafemale]

3. I thought that too. But after another moment or two of contemplation.

There is the possibility of ricochet from a probable concrete floor.

Also, the recoil alone could be enough to kill a 4 yr old.

[ThomWV]

7. It would not be possible for a child to do that

The child could not hold the shotgun in any way that a ricochet could hit them. Anyway they held it that would allow them to pull the trigger would point the barrel away from them.

Never the less, the child is dead. So somehow something happened.

[NNN0LHI]

8. I will find out how it happened today and post an answer to your question

:hi:

[ingac70]

10. Thanks. I'm VERY curious. n/t

[NNN0LHI]

20. The gun involved in the incident was a pistol

http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2243957&spid=

Posted 7/22/11 2:52 p.m.

<snip>Lt. Rick Emerson with the Beecher police said the incident remains under investigation, and an officer was in Chicago observing the autopsy, he said.

The gun involved in the incident was a pistol.

“We are still trying to determine ownership at this time,” Emerson said.

He said police are also trying to determine with whom the child was at the store at the time of the shooting. Emerson said it is not illegal for a child under the age of 21 to be in a liquor store in Illinois.

[ingac70]

24. Thanks! Makes sense now.

So sad. :(

[KurtNYC]

14. sawed off ? so that it fits under the counter perhaps ?

[reggie the dog]

27. sawed off shotgun?

[ingac70]

34. It ended up being a hand gun. n/t

[Evasporque]

38. Article says HANDGUN.....nt

[hobbit709]

4. Why was a kid that age roaming around in a liqor store

[baldguy]

5. Why was a fuckin' SHOTGUN left out where a kid of that age could find it?

Left out by a "responsible gun owner", no doubt.

[digitaln3rd]

6. It says in the article

That it was behind the counter. It's still stupid but it wasn't like it was in the aisles or anything.

But, seriously, why was he in a liquor store at all?

[mwb970]

9. Parents sometimes take their kids along when they run errands.

I imagine the kid was in there because his parent was shopping there. My parents used to take me into whatever stores they happened to be going to when I went with them on errands. At 4, I might well have "explored" behind the counter. I would never have picked up a gun if I found one there, though. Candy, maybe. Gun, no.

[digitaln3rd]

11. Errands to the liquor store?

I could see that excuse for a supermarket or some drug store.

But, seriously, going to pick up booze is something that can probably wait until you have someone else to watch the kid, I'd think. Is it really that important that you can't wait to get alcohol?

[ProfessorGAC]

15. You Can't Your Kid In To Buy A 12 Pack Of Beer?

Really? Why? It doesn't seem like bad parenting to me. I see kids with their dads going into the store to by beer.

You can buy beer at a lot of grocery stores.

How is this different?
GAC

[Iggo]

16. Yeah, they shoulda left him locked in the car.

Then you'd have someone to blame besides that poor poor gun owner or that stupid fucking 4 year old.

(By the way, they sell things in liquor stores other than liquor, as you may have heard.)

[raccoon]

17. Not in SC, they don't. nt

[ProfessorGAC]

Well, Here in IL They Do

A lot of liquor stores are quasi-convenience markets too. Milk, pop, snack foods, and the like.

And, most of the chain grocers have liquor licenses. So, that's the reverse case where they are the soup to nuts place that also sell liquor.
GAC

[reggie the dog]

31. in liquor stores you can get

liquor in all, most also sell soda, snacks etc. but even if what is the difference? why not take your kids to the liquor store? i dont drink but my daughter has seen a liquor store when i buy drinks for dinner guests, she has also seen my pot dealers house.... o the horror!

[mwb970]

25. I'm sorry, I don't see what's wrong with that.

You are talking as if a "state store" is a porno shop or some other den of iniquity. It's not. It's a liquor store.

[reggie the dog]

30. why get a sitter, that would increase the cost

if i have to pay a sitter 20 dollars to watch the kid while i go pick up beer and wine for dinner guests (i dont drink) or to stop by to pick up my weed?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

21. My father took me into the liquor store when I was six or seven

....rather than leave me in the car. It's not like I knew what the place really was, and he didn't start swigging on the way home.

[reggie the dog]

28. buying liquor with their parents

[bluerum]

12. Possibly shortened barrel with pistol grips.

[itsrobert]

13. sawed off shotgun?

?

[Iggo]

18. Hey!

Let's not get crazy here!

We have to stick with "responsible gun owner" or those crazy liberals'll be a-comin' fer our guns!

Blame the kid. Blame the parent. But never EVER blame the gun owner!

[spin]

32. As a gun owner I disagree ...

firearms should be stored properly if there is ANY chance that a young child might access them.

I have firearms available for self defense but they are locked in gun boxes that I can open very quickly.

Most gun owners are responsible and we do place the blame on those owners who fail to properly secure their weapons when a tragedy occurs.

Unfortunately, it is true that SOME extreme liberals would love to take firearms away from civilians in our nation.

[petronius]

33. I suspect ~100% of gun owners will agree that it's appropriate to examine and

critique the storage decisions of the owner. But I wouldn't leap to 'criminal' or 'negligent' without more details (although given that this was a commercial establishment and not the parent's gun, I put the bar for those determinations a lot lower)...

[Blue_Tires]

19. story is light on details...

where was the father? where was the manager/cashier?

[NutmegYankee]

22. The article now says it was a handgun.

That makes a bit more sense in how this happened.

[JI7]

23. this is one of those things where you can't really blame anyone

it's also one reason i would never want a gun. and i know the gun was placed where it was so whoever is working there can easily get it if someone tries to attack them.

but the father didn't do anything wrong. kids that age run around a lot and go into places that those who are older would know they shouldn't go into.

sad for everyone involved.

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. Thank you for being reasonable.

It's a horrible story where the punishment is that neither store owner, no parent, will ever get over this.

[reggie the dog]

26. I know we start being criminals early here in Chicago but damn

4 is young to be trying to rob a liquor store with a shotgun.

[Lawisthelaw]

35. She wasn't a patron

The mom worked there and brought her 2 kids to work w her. Ages 3 months and 4 years... She brought her 4 year old in, went outside to get baby... When she got back in her son had already shot himself. Lots of questions here- why wouldn't the 4 year old walk in along side her as she carried the baby? Especially since he knew their was a gun under the counter? Not to mention this was a 100 degree day... Why was baby left in the car at all?

[Fumesucker]

36. Probably afraid the four year old would run in the street/traffic..

While she was getting the little one out.

Today's car seats can take some time to get a kid out of, particularly if they aren't cooperative, which a three month old wouldn't even know how to cooperate in the first place.

[NNN0LHI]

37. Busy highway(Route 1) about 20 yards from the front door of the store

You are correct. I have seen my own 4 year old children cover that distance before I could blink an eye.

Don

[leeroysphitz]

39. Guns kill people. n/t