NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A father provided an update on his son’s condition after the toddler accidentally shot himself with a flare gun in Northwest Miami-Dade.
Justin’s father, Lazaro Perez Hernandez, said the child is OK, and he recalled the moment he heard the flare gun.
“In the moment, I was very scared, but thank God nothing was serious, and thank God the child is fine, and that’s what’s important,” Perez Hernandez said.
The incident happened on Thursday at Northwest 32nd Avenue, near 103rd Street.
Once Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units arrived at the scene and located the child, he was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.
The flare gun’s loud shot was captured on a neighbor’s Ring camera.
According to Justin’s grandfather, Raul, the child was in the backyard with his father cleaning the family’s boat before the incident occurred. The 2-year-old got a hold of the flare gun that was part of the boat’s safety kit and accidentally set it off.
“I don’t know what moment it happened,” Perez Hernandez said. “He opened a cabinet, he went inside of it, and I felt something, I turned around and saw everything.”
On Friday. the Florida Department of Children and Families arrived at home, where they visited for about 20 minutes.
Although he son is OK, Perez Hernandez is cautioning other parents to keep an eye on their children.
“Be very careful, be very careful with that kind of thing, and keep it away from them,” he said.
On Friday evening, Justin was discharged from the hospital and is back home with his family.
7News cameras captured the 2-year-old being hugged and kissed by his family as they returned home from the hospital.
Loved ones said they are thankful Justin is back home.
Perez Hernandez will not face any charges. 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 do not apply.
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