JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Dan Brown tells Action News Jax he heard a gunshot ring out while shopping inside Hope’s Closet Thursday afternoon with his wife and children.
“Just out of the blue, we just hear this loud crash,” said Brown. “It was just like this real loud bang. And I thought maybe something might have fallen over. But immediately after I heard it, I just heard this horrible screaming, like someone got hurt really, really, bad.”
Brown says a little boy accidentally shot himself in the hand. The child is expected to survive.
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“This, maybe 9 or 10-year-old boy had shot himself in the hand,” Brown said. “We saw them loading him up on a stretcher right before we left.”
Police tell Action News Jax the child found the gun inside a dressing room.
JSO says the investigation is not currently criminal, but detectives are questioning the gun’s owner about why the firearm was in the store.
Action News Jax Law and Safety expert, Dale Carson, says if the gun owner is not a convicted felon, charges don’t seem likely.
“The only charge that could even be considered would be something like allowing a minor to have access to a firearm. But that clearly wasn’t intentional. Therefore, it probably would not be criminal at all,” Carson said.
Caron says the child’s family has the option of pursuing a civil case.
Hope’s Closet’s website describes the store as " … a retail ministry of the Church of Eleven22 … "
Action News Jax called the Church of Eleven22, asking how the gun went unnoticed in the changing room.
Eleven22 spokesperson Melinda Byrnes sent Action News Jax a statement in response:
“Considering the incident just occurred, our focus is on fully respecting the family’s privacy during this time while JSO completes their standard protocol. Most importantly, our prayers are with the child and their family for quick healing from this incident.”
“I hope that the kid is okay. I hope that the parents of the child are okay,” Brown said.
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