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Posted: January 27, 2012

Durham police: 4-year-old found gun, accidentally shot himself

Police: Durham boy accidentally shot himself

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Durham, N.C. — A 4-year-old boy found a gun and accidentally shot himself at a house on Brightfield Lane in the Ashefield Place subdivision Friday morning, according to police.

The boy, whose name and condition were not released, was being treated at Duke University Hospital.

Someone called 911 around 8:45 a.m. and reported that the child had fallen off a counter and suffered a head injury. Police said they later determined that the boy had found an unsecured gun and was injured when it discharged.

A sticker on the family's van parked in the driveway lists the names of the family – Don and Stacie Nichols, their three children and two pets.

“This tragic incident reinforces the need for gun safety and the proper securing of firearms,” Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez Sr. said in a statement.

No other information was released.

Reporter: Tara Lynn
Photographers: Tom Normanly, John Cox
Web Editor: Kelly Hinchcliffe

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96 Comments

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Latest Comments

There has been no update to this story since Friday. It would be nice to know how this child is doing.

right2life
February 1, 2012 1:33 p.m.

I am an instructor I spend a lot of time on this in my classes. All fire arms need to be secured from children, and children need to be taught about fire arms at an early age. The key here is education on both sides.

LEO-007
January 30, 2012 8:51 a.m.

Prayers with this little one.

topfan4unc
January 27, 2012 7:59 p.m.

Bad mistake by the parents. I feel bad for them. They have to live with this. True they should have prevented this. I have guns but had always kept them secure and never had them loaded or ammo in the same location when my son was young. I had also taught him the proper way to handle a firearm. Now if you choose not to own a firearm that's your right but don't use an accident as an excuse to say they are bad. Hope all you self righteous liberals never need a gun one day.

Skydiver2
January 27, 2012 7:50 p.m.

Also, don't be fooled into thinking that my two or three year old isn't strong enough to pull the trigger......I have worked the scenes where three did so easily. Two died and one lived.

topfan4unc
January 27, 2012 7:48 p.m.

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