FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating after a 7-year-old boy shot himself in the parking lot of a supermarket in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Rescue crews responded to a call about a child shot at a parking lot outside a Winn-Dixie in the area of West Davie Boulevard and Southwest 32nd Avenue, just after 9 a.m., Wednesday.
“We received a 911 call reference a juvenile who had been shot in the leg,” Fort Lauderdale Police spokesperson Casey Liening. “The juvenile, a 7-year-old male, was with his father. They arrived here at this plaza. The father went into the store. He left the child inside of the vehicle while he went into the store.”
Authorities said a man pulled into the parking lot of the supermarket and left his son alone in the car to go shopping. Inside the vehicle, police said, there was a loaded gun.
“It is believed at this point that the child got a hold of a gun that was inside of the vehicle and shot himself in the leg,” said Liening.
It remains unclear where the gun was in the vehicle, but the child located it and shot himself in the leg.
“He was only inside of the store for a few minutes. When [the father] returned back to the vehicle, that’s when he realized that the child had been shot in the leg,” said Liening. “Whether or not the gun was secured inside the vehicle, that will all be a part of this investigation.”
Customers outside of the Winn-Dixie were startled by the turn of events.
Shopper Lenora Davis, who said she has grandchildren, believes this never should have happened.
“Oh, my God, that’s terrible. I wouldn’t let my child in the car with no gun. I got grandkids. I won’t put a gun around them, period,” said shopper Lenora Davis. “You know how a child is. Any baby can pick up a gun — 3-year-old, 2-year-old. I don’t think it’s right at all. That dad should be charged for that.”
Rescue crews transported the child to Broward Health Medical Center with serious injuries.
According to police, the boy remains hospitalized Thursday in good condition, and doctors expect he will be discharged sometime Friday.
7News cameras captured loved ones hugging each other outside of the hospital.
Wednesday afternoon, 7News cameras captured the boy’s father getting out of a police cruiser outside of the hospital, wearing a blue hospital gown.
Police said the father’s clothes are now part of the investigation. He may end up facing charges.
The father’s vehicle was later towed from the supermarket for the investigation.
Officials with Child Protective Services were at the hospital, as police continue to investigate.
Under Florida law, those who have concealed weapons permits are allowed to keep their guns inside of their cars, but they must be securely encased.
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