According to local news reports and the Lafayette Police Department, a shocking incident unfolded in Lafayette, Indiana on the evening of May 18 when a 3-year-old child gained access to a firearm and shot two individuals.
The authorities were alerted around 8:30 p.m. that evening after the victims, a 21-year-old woman identified as the child’s mother from Gary, Indiana, and a 23-year-old male acquaintance, arrived at a local hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
The shooting occurred at a residence located in the 3000 block of Mount Court, near the intersection of U.S. 231 and Teal Road. It was revealed that the toddler had somehow come into possession of a firearm and discharged a single round, striking both victims.
Remarkably, one of the injured individuals turned out to be the wanted murder suspect. The Lafayette Police Department identified the man as 23-year-old Trayshaun Smith, a resident of Lafayette. Smith had an active murder warrant issued by Cook County, Illinois. Law enforcement agencies from both Lafayette and Illinois are collaborating on the murder investigation.
Fortunately, the injuries sustained by the victims were not life-threatening, as reported by WXIN. However, this distressing incident is part of a concerning trend in Lafayette, with a total of six shootings occurring within a week, according to the Lafayette Journal & Courier.
Lafayette, home to approximately 70,000 residents, is situated about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis. McClatchy News reached out to the Lafayette Police Department for further details, but no immediate response has been received.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this incident, authorities and residents alike are reminded of the critical importance of firearm safety, particularly when young children are present.
Follow Kyle Becker on Twitter @kylenabecker.