NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A child was transported to the hospital after they were shot by a flare gun in Northwest Miami-Dade.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived at the scene at Northwest 32nd Avenue near 103 Street, Thursday afternoon.
Ring video from neighbors captured the moments the flare shook the community.
“The time was around 11; I was in my home,” said one neighbor who heard the flare. “So I feel, I heard a different sound.”
7Skyforce hovered over the scene, where the child was airlifted to the hospital and rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center.
The child’s grandfather, Raul, told 7News the child was in the backyard with his father cleaning the family’s boat before the incident occurred. The 2-year-old, named Justin, would get a hold of the flare gun that was part of the boat’s safety kit before accidentally setting it off.
“He accidentally set off the flare gun and he burned his finger,” Raul told 7News in Spanish. “It was more of shock than anything else.”
Justin suffered injuries to his finger and burns to his chest, but his family is thankful that he is alright. They said he will either come home on Thursday night or stay in the hospital for another day.
On Thursday evening, Miami-Dade Police said the incident was deemed an accident and there was no negligence. They added that because the flare gun is considered an incendiary device, the criteria for storing a firearm does not apply.
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