6-year-old Memphis boy shot in eye dies
Posted March 18th, 2008 by minortopics | via www.wreg.comCharlris Fleming, a 6-year-old in Frayser, Tennessee, which is just outside of Memphis, fatally shot himself in the eye while playing with a handgun which accidentally discharged. His uncle, Jerome Black, is facing criminal charges for bringing the gun into the house and hiding it in an insanely stupid place:
Police say Jerome Black has admitted bringing a gun into the Greenbriar apartment in Frayser. He reportedly said he hid the loaded handgun under a couch cusion (sic).
Charlris and a seven-year-old were playing with the gun in a bedroom. The revolver went off and Charlris was shot in the face. Neighbors say the victim’s mother, Black and a third adult were in a separate room.
Paramedics rushed the boy to Le Bonheur Childrens’ Medical Center. He died while in the hospital.
“It’s devastating,” said Susan Helms of Le Bonheur. “This was a preventable tragedy, this did not have to happen.”
According to Helms, last year the hospital treated 50 kids for gunshot wounds. That’s nearly one child every week.