SAVANNAH, GA (August 31, 2011): A 2-year-old boy who was undergoing emergency surgery this morning appears to be the victim of an accidental shooting.
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police detectives investigating the shooting of Jayden Simmons at his residence Tuesday night found evidence at his residence supporting his mother’s explanation that he found a gun on the floor of the bathroom and was playing with it when it fired. The child received a head wound and was in critical condition.
Melinda Simmons of the West Broad Court apartments at MLK Boulevard and Henry Street, had flagged down a police officer on the way to Memorial University Medical Center about 9:14 p.m. to report she was taking her son to the hospital with the gunshot wound. The officer radioed ahead to the emergency room and accompanied the mother’s car.
Three minutes earlier, 911 operators reported hearing screaming in a call from the residence and had dispatched patrol officers to the apartment.
The mother said her boyfriend apparently left the loaded pistol in the bathroom before the child went in to wash his hands.
SCMPD Violent Crimes detectives are continuing the investigation and will confer with the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office upon completion.
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