Four-Year-Old Shoots Herself While Shopping With Grandma

June 17, 2008

A grandmother took her granddaughter and her handgun to Sam's Club. As Donna Hutto Williamson, a South Carolina magistrate with a permit to carry the weapon, shopped at the warehouse store, the 4-year-old sat in the cart with the purse that contained the firearm. According to an Associated Press report:

The child was riding in a shopping cart and playing with a cell phone, then grabbed the gun from her grandmother's purse and shot herself in the chest, Inease Williamson said.

The child's great-grandmother also said the lil girl is recovering from emergency surgery. Do you think the grandmother should be charged for putting the tot in close proximity to the loaded pistol?

19 Comments

Tashablueyes 4 years 48 weeks

Absolutely she should be charged! Anyone who owns a gun has the responsibility of knowing where that gun is at ALL times. When I shop with my kids I even remember to pull my cell phone out of my purse so that little hands don't mess with it, how can you put your purse with a gun in it near a child and not think to move it? That poor baby!

davismama2003 4 years 48 weeks

Unbelievable!! If a mother can be charged with child endangerment for leaving her sleeping child locked in the car while she pays for gas or drops money in the salvation army bell ringers bucket, this woman should be sent to Jail! Too bad there is not an extra penalty for being an idiot! Anyone wanna bet that there are more loaded guns left lying around in the home(s) where this poor child lives?

megnmac 4 years 48 weeks

Nope. The danger of the situation was there, and she ignored it. I have no problem with her having a gun, I have a problem with her putting it in front of a child and not securing it. Guns have to be respected and the idea of just leaving one around a child is so reckless. And I agree, moms miss things all the time and their child can fall down or whatever - but to create the danger as this woman did is unacceptable. I'm not saying to send her to prison, but I'm saying it is her recklessness that placed a child in her care in a life threatening situation - that is child abuse.

Mystofflyn 4 years 48 weeks

Alrighty people. First of all she is a magistrate, not exactly a friend to certain people, thus her need to carry a handgun, even in a super market. Safeties are very easy to turn on and off. In handguns, which are used for personal protection, you don't have five minutes to take a gun lock off. A child can move them. It's not like this woman wanted her grandchild to shoot herself. Now she was negligent when she left the purse in the cart with the child, because she should have known that the safety was that easy to take off. She also should have been paying attention to the child rummaging through her purse. How many of you mothers have taken you eyes off of your child for a moment, only to have them do something dangerous that hurt them, even if it was just a scraped knee? It can happen to anyone! I know a scraped knee is much different, but the situation remains the same. We are not all-powerful people. We make mistakes. I definately see a liscence removal as a possibility, but criminal charges, absolutely not. Don't you think she's gone through enough heck already?

megnmac 4 years 48 weeks

Negligent child abuse - not saying she intended something bad, but like leaving your baby in the car when it is 100 degrees out, you can't just have these accidents when a child is in YOUR care!

Liss 4 years 48 weeks

Thank god she is ok. I don't understand why she left a purse with a loaded gun next to a child. That's just stupid.

gab6784 4 years 48 weeks

I completely agree sunny1intucson. How horrible is this? I am glad to hear that she is recovering! Honestly how could she forget her gun was in her purse? Hopefully they will revoke her license - minimum.

TomCruiseFan 4 years 48 weeks

How awful!

redheadkimie 4 years 49 weeks

This is HORRIBLE!!! Where was this lady's head? She's lucky that child is still alive! Stupid People should not be aloud to take care of children or have guns!

sarahinparis 4 years 49 weeks

Not only did she put her grandchild in danger, she put everyone around her in danger. The child could have just as easily shot another shopper. I don't think revoking her license would be inappropriate. She has proven that she is not competent enough to carry a concealed weapon.

radmama27 4 years 49 weeks

I am just glad the child is gonna make it and be ok...damn..I really don't know what to think!

K is For Kait 4 years 49 weeks

Grandma was extremely negligent. Though she probably feels awful, she deserves the charges.

AliCherri1 4 years 49 weeks

Shouldn't the gun have had some kind on SAFETY on it... I'm sure the Grandmother feels horrible, but I think there needs to be some kind of research into why the child was able to shoot the gun and then think about charging ppl from there. Thank God the child is ok!

Trixie6 4 years 49 weeks

This really pisses me off. She should definitely face charges. I'm sorry but I hope she feels horrible each and everyday for the pain she caused this child.

amber_castaldo 4 years 49 weeks

this is just crazy. I can't believe this woman didn't remember that the gun was in the bag. I never leave my purse with my child just because he likes to take out all my credit cards. If there was a gun in the mix there would be no chance in H E double hockey sticks that I would leave my purse unattended with my child. This story makes me cry.

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 49 weeks

Yes there should be charges.

JennyJen 4 years 49 weeks

Oh my - I am glad to hear the little girl is recovering. But why would she not remeber that the purse contained a loaded gun! I could not even imagine this happening. And why was there not a safety of some sort - and why was the gun loaded. Why do you need to carry it when you ar egoing to the supermarket? Just scary all around.

jessie 4 years 49 weeks

wow...no comment..lots of contraversey. (sp?)

sunny1intucson 4 years 49 weeks

How awful. While I think there should be some penalty to send a message to others, I'm sure the grandmother is feeling terrible enough about the situation now (I hope). But there should be some sort of penalty (i.e., not being allowed to carry a handgun anymore perhaps), though I don't know what would be appropriate.

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19 Comments

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