A 2-year-old child accidentally shot himself in the foot after he found an unsecured handgun Tuesday night at a family member’s home on J.E. Woods Drive. The child was flown to UK Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

On Wednesday afternoon, the child was still in the hospital, according to Assistant Danville Chief of Police Glenn Doan. He added that it looked like no surgery will be required and the child will fully recover from the wound.

The child was being cared for by his grandfather while the child’s parents were at work when the accident occurred at about 11:50 p.m., Doan said. 

An investigation into the incident is nearly complete, Doan said, and it looked like no charges will be filed. “It was a mistake,” he said.

The man and his grandson were in the same room when the grandfather stepped out for a moment, Doan said. He believed the .22 caliber revolver was secured in a night stand but had forgotten it was actually tucked underneath a pillow, Doan said. That’s when the child found the gun and accidentally fired a round.

Tuesday night’s accidental shooting “could have been tragic,” Doan said.

That’s why it’s important for people with children in the home, or those who have children and grandchildren visit, to always keep their guns locked up and out of the reach of children.

He added that people need to be mindful of where their guns are located. He said on several occasions people have “lost” their guns in their own homes. “They didn’t know where they’re at.”

Doan said the DPD has free gun locks available to the public. And police will always be willing to give advice on how to properly secure guns in the safest places, he said.