VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A 7-year-old boy was hurt in an accidental shooting, the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) said, and now a woman is facing charges.
Detectives determined that the owner, 38-year-old Sheneka Warren-Boykins, did not properly secure the gun.
On July 31, VBPD responded to a call for a shooting in the 2400 block of Brush Creek Lane. When officers arrived, they found the boy suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. Police said a preliminary investigation revealed he had been shot by another young boy.
Court documents also reveal police responded to the home after 911 calls for a child bleeding and a bullet hole in the wall.
Documents said an 18-year-old man was home alone with Warren-Boykins' 6 and 7-year-old sons, along with three other elementary-aged children at the time of the incident. According to the documents, the 18-year-old said he was in the living room when he heard a loud "boom" come from Warren-Boykins' bedroom, and then the children came out screaming hysterically.
According to the criminal complaint, the 7-year-old was bleeding from his right eye.
According to the court documents, Warren-Boykins arrived home and drove the 7-year-old to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. He suffered a severe laceration to his right eyebrow that required stitches.
Warren-Boykins allegedly admitted to investigators that she kept a teal/black Ruger LCP 9 millimeter and Sentry Arms Mini Draco 7 in a dresser drawer in her bedroom. Investigators found a 9-millimeter casing on the bed, and blood samples were also collected.
Warren-Boykins was arrested and charged with one felony count of child neglect and a misdemeanor count of allowing access to firearms by children.
This comes months after a Virginia Beach teenager was accidentally shot and killed in a home after a parent left a gun unsecured.
Following Warren-Boykins' arrest, Police Chief Paul Neudigate released a statement concerning the incident.
“Once again, I will make a plea to our community, asking them to take the necessary steps to keep their firearms out of the hands of those who should not have access," Neudigate said. “When those steps are not taken and that negligence results in violence in our city, we will pursue all appropriate charges.”
If you have any information on this incident, call the Virginia Beach Police Department at 757-385-4101 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. You can also submit a tip online at P3Tips.com.