Steve Johnson, 30, was arrested after the 3-year-old gained access to the unsecured firearm, which discharged and struck him in the arm.
TAMPA, Fla. — A 3-year-old was shot in the arm after he got access to a gun left in bed by his mother’s boyfriend, according to Tampa police.
It happened just before 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at a home on N 51st Street near E 30th Avenue.
Investigators said the boy was in bed with his mother and her boyfriend, 30-year-old Steve Johnson, when Johnson got up to use the bathroom, leaving behind an unsecured gun.
The 3-year-old got access to the gun, which discharged and struck him in the arm.
The boy’s mother immediately rendered aid and called 911. He was transported to the hospital with stable, non-life-threatening injuries.
Responding deputies learned Johnson was a convicted felon possessing the firearm illegally. The gun was recovered as evidence.
“It is incredibly fortunate that this was not a fatal tragedy,” Chief Lee Bercaw said. “This incident highlights the double danger of a convicted felon unlawfully possessing a firearm and then failing to secure it. A gun should never be within reach of a child. There is no excuse for such negligence when the cost could easily have been a young life.”
Johnson was arrested and charged with felon in possession of a firearm, child neglect with great bodily harm, safe storage of firearms and possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis. He was transported to Orient Road Jail.
The investigation is ongoing.