According to the bodycam footage released by authorities, officers were responding to a disturbance call at a McDonald’s parking lot. Upon arrival, they found a man reportedly refusing to cooperate with drive-thru staff over an incorrect order. As police attempted to de-escalate the situation, one of the officers noticed suspicious movement inside the vehicle — and what happened next could have ended in tragedy.
While officers were detaining the father outside the vehicle, the 4-year-old child — seated in the back seat — reached for a loaded handgun that had been left unsecured. In a split second, the weapon discharged, sending a bullet flying toward one of the responding officers. Thankfully, the shot missed, and no one was injured.
Police bodycam footage captured the chaos that followed. “A kid just fired that gun!” one officer shouted in disbelief. The officers quickly secured the scene, checking the vehicle to ensure no one else was in harm’s way. The child was safely removed from the car and placed under supervision while the situation was assessed.
Officials later confirmed that the firearm belonged to the child’s father, who was taken into custody. Authorities described the event as a “preventable near-tragedy”, emphasizing that the child had no understanding of what they were doing — they simply pulled the trigger on what they thought was a toy.
Sheriff Rosie Rivera, speaking during a press conference, said, “This incident could have been fatal. We’re extremely fortunate that no lives were lost. It’s a painful reminder that leaving a loaded gun within a child’s reach is never acceptable.”
Experts agree that this situation highlights a growing problem across the U.S. — children fin