Toddler (3) Shot At Day Care - By Other Toddler (2)

[matcom]

<snip>

Parents in the neighborhood say it was an affordable day care where children were well-cared-for and even potty-trained.

But early Monday morning, shocking news filtered down the Southwest Side blocks -- a 2-year-old boy inside the home in the 2200 block of South Drake had accidentally shot a 3-year-old boy in the hip and thigh.

The 3-year-old was stable at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, and his injuries were not life-threatening, a Chicago Police spokesman said.

The news was especially hard on Alma Villegas, whose two young children are at the house every day while Villegas attends school. Villegas, who is earning her GED, was off Monday because of the holiday, and her children stayed home.

"Imagine if my kids were there,'' she said as her 2-year-old son Leo played in her front yard. "It could have been him.''

21-year-old man charged

The shooting happened about 8:30 a.m. A man, described by neighbors as the adult son of the woman who runs the day care, was taken into custody and charged because he owned the gun, authorities said.

Juan Ramirez, 21, was charged with two felonies, including unlawful use of a weapon by a convicted felon and defacing a firearm. The first charge stemmed from Ramirez's criminal history that prohibits him from owning a gun; the second charge was filed because the gun's serial numbers had been scratched off.

Ramirez also was charged with violating the firearm child protection law, a misdemeanor. The law prohibits keeping a weapon in a home where children 14 and younger reside.

Detectives say the children found the gun lying on a bed in Ramirez's room. Officials did not say how they knew the 2-year-old pulled the trigger.



more>>>> http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-kidshot11.html

[underpants]

1. NOT the gun's fault

so stop saying that.

Funny this should come up while we are going to look at another day care.....

[matcom]

2. right. might i suggest

[underpants]

3. Never too early

[matcom]

4. that hat isn't regulation!

i smell article 15

[underpants]

6. Yes BUT notice how well it camous against the sky

:bounce:

[anarch]

10. that should come in handy for the 1021st Paratoddler Division n/t

[LisaL]

14. Yes, of course. If only 3 year old had another gun, he could have

defended himself.

[Arkana]

5. I guess they should stop showing Schwarzenegger movies

for indoctrination purposes. :P

[Fleshdancer]

7. stories like this make me see red

This story pisses me off on so many levels. Could you imagine being the parent of the toddler that was shot? I would be on a psychotic rampage. I'm not above revenge and I would be hell bent on bringing that day care down.

Why in the hell did this guy - who was a convicted felon - live in the house that had a fucking day care in it to begin with? I don't care if his mother owned the center, he has no business being there much less bringing in fire arms. :grr:

[sasquatch]

8. Damn, that's a tough daycare center

:silly:

[LaraMN]

9. Who leaves an effing gun where a kid can get it ?!

Stupid m@therfucker. :grr: :grr: :grr:

[MountainLaurel]

11. Too many people

My brother nearly died because my fuckwit father left a police revolver in a closet.

Each year I was in high school, we had at least one student die or left brain damaged for life because a bunch of guys got drunk and started playing around with a gun. And this in a school where firearms education was mandatory for everyone.

[sniffa]

12. has biLL bennet gotten wind of this yet?

[KurtNYC]

13. self delete

really not funny