Boy, 9, shoots little sister while playing with gun
A man has been charged after a nine-year-old boy allegedly shot his six-year-old sister at a Queensland home.
Detectives from the Cairns Child Protection Investigation Unit charged a 47-year-old Earlville man on Monday following the incident on Friday.
Police allege the man was cleaning a Glock pistol at his home before leaving it unattended in a bedroom when he became distracted.
Police say the boy then came across the weapon, who – while playing with it – allegedly shot his sister.
The girl was rushed to Cairns Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The man was charged with one count each of grievous bodily harm, failing to keep a weapon unloaded, failing to keep a weapon secure, contravening a licence condition, unlawful possession of a category R weapon and possession of a telescopic baton.
He is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on June 13.
Detective Acting Inspector Kev Goan said the incident highlighted the importance of proper safety and security when dealing with weapons.
“This is a timely reminder to all those who possess firearms must take all reasonable precautions to ensure the firearm is safely stored and that it doesn’t come into the possession of a person who is not authorised to possess a firearm,” he said.
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