Four-Year-Old Davidson County Child Recovering After Accidental Shooting; Family Seeking Accountability

A four-year-old Davidson County girl diagnosed with autism is recovering at home after accidentally shooting herself in the arm with a firearm in mid-November, according to her family.

The child was transported directly to Brenner Children’s Hospital, where she was treated for a gunshot wound to her left arm. She has since been released and is continuing to recover at home.

The child’s mother said the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical services responded quickly after the incident.

“The Sheriff’s Department and EMS were amazing,” the mother said. “They were here quickly, and we are very grateful for how they handled everything in those first moments.”

The shooting occurred inside the family’s home and involved a pistol that belonged to a family friend, according to the mother. She said she had no idea the firearm had been brought into the home inside the woman’s purse.

The mother said the purse was placed on a table within reach of the four-year-old child.

“We did not know there was a gun in our house,” the mother said.

The child’s autism diagnosis makes it difficult to determine exactly how the firearm discharged, the family said.

“We don’t know exactly how this happened,” the mother said. “Given her motor skills, it’s hard to understand how the gun went off.”

The child’s father was approximately ten feet away at the time of the incident, according to the family.

The mother said the child has had limited exposure to firearms.

“She’s seen my husband carry his rifle outside,” the mother said, “but she hasn’t seen him shoot anything.”

The family emphasized that they take firearm safety seriously. They own firearms and store them securely. Since being told that there was nothing further authorities could do in the case, the family said they have posted multiple “no firearms” signs on their property as an additional safety measure.

The mother made the 911 call following the shooting. While at the hospital, the family was separated by only a curtain from another patient — a minor who had been shot in an unrelated incident and later died. The mother said that the experience compounded her need to address the issue.

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and has classified the case as an active investigation. No charges have been filed and no arrests have been made.

The family reports they were told the person carrying the firearm did not have a concealed carry permit at the time of the incident. Criminal charges are being delayed. The District Attorney has not issued charges.

While acknowledging the professionalism of first responders and investigators, the family said they are seeking accountability and justice from the District Attorney and Law Enforcement.

“This isn’t about blame,” the mother said. “It’s about accountability and preventing this from happening again.”

Law enforcement has been contacted for a response.

The family hopes their experience will prompt broader discussion about firearm responsibility, particularly when children are present.