A second tragedy has happened locally with a pellet gun claiming a young life. Last week Ty-Rion Henry was killed by a pellet from his grandfather’s gun when the grandfather was checking the safety on it.
The latest incident involved two brothers playing with a pellet gun when the 4year old somehow shot his 7year old brother in the chest fatally wounding him.

Alejandro Arroyo Mejia, 7, died Friday night at Wilson Medical Center after being shot in the chest, authorities said.
Melinda Mejia said her brothers, Alejandro and 4-year-old Ivan, were shooting cans with a pellet gun outside their home on Jaycross Road. She said the gun was a Christmas present for Alejandro, and Ivan cried because his brother wouldn’t let him use it.
When Alejandro, a first-grader at Stantonsburg Elementary School, finally relented and handed the gun to his younger brother, the weapon went off, Melinda Mejia said.
Wilson County Sheriff Calvin Woodard Jr. said the pellet gun involved in the shooting is recommended only for people age 18 and over.

WRAL

Pellet guns are not toys and they should be handled in a safe responsible manner. I’m afraid that will see a rash of new laws coming down the pipe because of these two incidents. We don’t need new laws we need people to safely handle these weapons.
In the first case you had an adult bring a loaded weapon into the house and leave it on the stairs. When the child was coming down the stairs an adult picked up the gun to check the safety and point the gun towards the child and the weapon goes off killing him.
The second incident it seems from news reports the two children were playing with the gun without supervision or at least not very close supervision. Where were the adults?
Tragic situations… both of them…. But they could have been prevented if people would only follow gun safety rules. Kids can learn gun safety rules and with proper supervision safely handle a gun adults should know the rules . As for new laws to protect our kids…..how about enforcing the child endangerment laws already on the books before we crack down on everyone just because some adults are careless or negligent.

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