The mother and godfather of a 5-year-old boy who shot himself in the leg have both been charged, officials said.
The shooting occurred inside a home on the 3500 block of Joyce Street in Philadelphia early Sunday evening, according to investigators.
The 5-year-old boy gained access to an unsecured gun and shot himself twice in the right leg, according to police. The boy's mother then rushed him to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.
The child was listed in stable condition and is expected to survive, investigators said.
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Investigators searched through the home on Joyce Street and determined the gun the boy used was licensed and registered to the boy's godfather, 33-year-old Rhamique Topping.
Topping was later arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person.
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office also approved charges of endangering the welfare of a child, recklessly endangering another person, false reports and obstructing justice against the boy's mother, who officials have not yet identified.
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The office also shared a link for legal gun owners in Philadelphia to request free gun locks.
So far in 2024, only one other child has been shot in Philadelphia, according to data compiled by the City Controller's Office that was last updated Thursday. Last year, children made up about 10% of the city's more than 1,650 shootings.
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There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
