Florida – In a devastating incident in Florida that underscores the dangers of keeping firearms unsecured in homes with children, a 2-year-old boy tragically lost his life after he accidentally shot himself with a gun he found on a bed where he was lying with his mother. The incident, which occurred around 7 p.m. on February 18, has led to the arrest of the toddler’s 24-year-old mother, identified as N. Cruz, and her 25-year-old fiancee, identified as Q. Wesley, on multiple charges, including culpable negligence.
Authorities were called to the scene after receiving a distressing 911 call about a young boy who had shot himself in the head. Upon arrival, police discovered the child in a bedroom, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. The scene was described in the police report as harrowing, with the child found laying in a pool of blood and struggling to breathe. Despite the swift response from the first responders who rushed him to the hospital, the boy was unable to survive the critical injuries and was pronounced dead.
During the investigation, it was revealed that five adults were present in the home at the time of the incident, along with two children, including an infant. The adults included Wesley’s sister, father, and grandmother. The police’s findings painted a chaotic household where such a devastating oversight could occur. Cruz, who was with the boy on the bed along with another child, recounted to detectives that she was playing on her phone and having a snack when she heard a deafening bang. The sudden noise that left her ears ringing was the gunshot that struck her son. In her panicked state, she witnessed her son severely wounded and bleeding profusely.
According to police reports, the firearm was accessible on the bed, allowing the young child to reach it quickly and accidentally cause the discharge. Cruz recounted to investigators that Wesley had returned home shortly before the incident and had placed the gun on a glass table adjacent to the bed. She claimed that Wesley had removed the magazine and cleared the chamber of the gun—an account that was later contradicted by evidence found at the scene, which included a full magazine found near the firearm, suggesting that the gun was not properly unloaded or secured.
Both Cruz and Wesley now face severe legal repercussions. Cruz, already a felon with a conviction in 2018 for grand theft of a motor vehicle, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and culpable negligence allowing a minor access to a firearm resulting in death. Wesley faces charges of culpable negligence. Their actions, or lack thereof, to secure the firearm in a household with small children have led to catastrophic results. Authorities also discovered that despite having a gun safe in the house, Wesley chose not to use it, further demonstrating the negligence that led to this avoidable tragedy. Following their initial cooperation with the police, both Cruz and Wesley stopped communicating with investigators and were planning to flee, as indicated by tips and surveillance that captured them packing their vehicle.
The couple was apprehended by the police in the parking lot of a store as they were allegedly attempting to evade law enforcement. Held at the county jail, Cruz’s bond was set at $55,000, while Wesley’s was considerably lower at $15,000. This heartbreaking incident underscores the critical importance of gun safety, especially in households with children.
