Florida boy, 3, accidentally shoots himself: Officials warn gun owners to 'secure firearms'

Toddler recovering after accidental shooting in Osceola County

A 3-year-old boy is recovering after accidentally shooting himself with an unsecured gun inside his home in Poinciana, according to authorities.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - A 3-year-old boy is expected to fully recover after he gained access to a gun and unintentionally shot himself in the chest, deputies report. Though the boy is in stable condition and was not killed, authorities continue to reiterate the importance of keeping guns safely accounted for. 

"This incident could have easily resulted in a fatal tragedy," Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said during an April 10 press conference.

What we know:

The Osceola County Sheriff's office responded to a home on Amber Way in Poinciana around 3:30 p.m., April 9 on the report of an accidental shooting. Deputies found a 3 ½ year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his chest. 

A three-year-old Poinciana boy accidentally shot himself after gaining access to a gun in his home. Osceola County Sheriff held a press conference on April 10, 2026 to discuss the events. 

The bullet exited his back with very little damage, Blackmon said. 

He was airlifted to the hospital for treatment. 

Authorities discovered the boy shot himself in the chest after gaining access to an unsecure handgun. The child's parents are cooperating with authorities at this time, Blackmon said.

The child's family and other children were at home at the time of the incident. 

What we don't know:

Blackmon didn't say how the boy got the gun – saying it's part of the investigation – but said the gun was "It was really accessible to a child. I wasn't hard to get to." 

The boy's parents could face possible charges, Blackmon confirmed. 

It's not known who the gun belongs to. 

Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon held a gun lock, warning firearm owners to safely secure their guns after a 3-year-old was shot on April 9, 2026. 

By the numbers:

So far in 2026, 71 unintentional shootings by children in the United States resulted in 24 deaths and 48 injuries, the sheriff's office reported. 

Warning to gun owners: ‘Safely secure your firearms’

Authorities are using this incident to spread caution to gun owners. 

"We want to remind all gun owners that it is your responsibility to safely secure firearms and keep them out of reach of children," Blackmon said, citing Florida statue 790.001, which says firearms must be "securely encased."

"'Securely encased' means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access," the statue said. 

In this case, it would be a misdemeanor offense, Blackmon said. If the shooting resulted in a death, the offense could be a felony for child neglect or abuse, he said. 

What's next:

The sheriff's office is hosting a free gun lock giveaway on May 1. Osceola County residents can obtain a free gun lock at the sheriff's office's main office, located at 2601 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy in Kissimmee. 

Blackmon said gun locks are sold for $5. 

"A child's life is worth a lot more than $5," he said.