Three-Year-Old Boy Accidentally Shoots Pregnant Mother

From the world of “things that need to stop happening:” the Albuquerque Journal reports that a 3-year-old boy shot both of his parents on Saturday after he reached into his mother’s purse for her iPod. The toddler found a loaded handgun instead.

The boy fired one shot, which hit his father, exited his body and then hit his mother in the arm. The woman is eight months pregnant. Both parents were rushed to the hospital.

The Albuquerque Journal reports:

The family, which also includes a 2-year-old girl, was living in the room at America’s Best Value Inn near Menaul and University where the shooting occurred, [the Albuquerque police spokesperson] said. The man and woman each confirmed the story, but the two children won’t be interviewed until a later date because of their age. A 9mm handgun was found inside the motel room.

The state Children, Youth and Families Department took custody of the children for at least 48 hours.

The police have recommended that the parents be charged with felony criminal negligence.