A Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured after being shot in the hand by his 3-year-old nephew inside a Spring home Tuesday morning, according to investigators.
The off-duty deputy was asleep inside his residence in the 20200 block of Woodsboro Court when the shooting occurred around 11:30 a.m., officials said.
He woke up after being shot in his left hand and called 911 himself.
Captain Vicente Medina with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office said the deputy’s firearm was holstered in his duty belt, which had been placed in an unconfirmed accessible location inside the home.
Investigators say the child somehow gained access to the weapon and pulled the trigger. Only one shot was fired.
“All we know is that it was holstered, and somehow, some way, the child got a hold of it,” Medina said during a news briefing. “He’d gotten home and put the duty belt someplace, and somehow the child grabbed the gun.”
Emergency medical personnel evaluated the deputy at the scene before he was transported to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition with a non-life-threatening injury.
Officials confirmed the child involved was the deputy’s nephew. The deputy’s mother—the child’s grandmother—was also inside the home at the time. The child was not injured.
“This is his residence,” Medina said, adding that investigators do not yet know whether the child lives in the home or was visiting.
The Precinct 4 Constable’s Office is leading the investigation. Medina said the findings will be presented to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether any charges are warranted.
Depending on the circumstances, Medina emphasized the importance of firearm safety—especially in homes with children.
Calling the incident “completely preventable,” Medina encouraged gun owners to secure firearms at all times.
“What you should be doing is putting your gun in a lock box, making sure it’s in a locked room, especially if you have children in the residence,” Medina said. “If you can add the added precaution of putting a gun lock on it, even better.”
Residents were asked to avoid the area while investigators processed the scene. No additional details have been released.
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