'They are devastated': 4-year-old Davenport boy dies of self-inflicted gunshot
A 4-year-old Davenport boy has died of a self-inflicted gunshot after finding a firearm in his family's car Friday night. Law enforcement is calling for tighter gun safety, as it's the second such death in Polk County this year.
Chosen Morris died at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando about 3 p.m. Saturday, according to Davenport Police Chief Steven Parker. He is survived by his parents, Robert and Quinta Morris, an 11-year-old sister and 7-year-old brother.
"I can't stress to you enough how tragic this is," the chief said. "I met with the family earlier today, and they are devastated by what happened."
On Friday night, Davenport police responded to AdventHealth Heart of Florida in Haines City about 6:30 p.m. for reports of a 4-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his head.
Davenport detectives said the Morris family was in their home on Citrus Landing Boulevard getting ready for a family night out, including heading out for pizza then home to play a family game.
Robert Morris was in the restroom preparing for the evening out, the chief said. The boy's mother, Quinta, was on her computer in the master bedroom when she said she heard a noise she described as a "pop."
Quinta Morris stepped out of her bedroom believing her children had possibly broken something. She approached her two older children, who were in the living room playing on electronics with earbuds inserted. Parker said Quinta Moriris began looking for Chosen when she noticed the interior door to the garage was open.
Quinta Morris entered the garage to find Chosen in the driver's seat of the family vehicle with a single gunshot wound to the head. Davenport detectives believe Chosen was excited about the family outing and got into the car to wait for the others. In the vehicle, Chosen found a Smith & Weson M&P .40-caliber handgun owned by Robert Morris, and upon playing with it accidentally discharged it, Parker said.
The couple immediately drove Chosen to AdventHealth, approximately two miles from their home. The mother, a nursing student, began taking measures immediately to help stabilize her son.
"The Davenport community is trying to wrap their arms around this family due to the tragic accident," Parker said. "On the same side, there's responsibility and lessons we need to learn in gun safety."
Parker said Chosen's death should serve as a "stark reminder" of best practices and gun safety for firearm owners.
The firearm in the Morris family's vehicle was legally owned by Robert Morris, who Parker said told police he owned it for personal safety on his travel to and from work.
Robert Morris told detectives he usually takes the firearm out of the car on Thursday nights when he arrives home from work, and securely stores it in his bedroom.
"He forgot. He simply forgot," the chief said. "He forgot Thursday, this happens Friday."
Parker said gun owners need to know exactly where their firearms are at all times, and make sure they are secure when not in their immediate possession.
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Davenport police officials will meet with the State Attorney's Office, which will review the evidence and determine whether Robert Morris or the Morris family will face any charges related to Chosen's death.
"We are not seeking any criminal charges," Parker said.
The chief said he does not feel the event shows any sign of parental negligence, despite the door to the garage and family car being unlocked.
"I don't know that you would expect a 4-year-old to go out and get into the car in this fashion," he said.
Parker encouraged firearm owners to practice more stringent gun safety, as this is the second child in Polk County to die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a firearm stowed in a car. Major Smith, a 6-year-old in Lakeland, died from a similar accident in January.
"If you don't have it in a lock box, there are trigger guards or trigger locks you can put on there," the chief said.
The trigger lock, handed out by Davenport Police Department for free to residents, locks around the gun's barrel in a way that stops it from fully closing, preventing it from rotating and firing the next round.
"You should always know where your firearms are at all times," Parker said.
Under Florida law, gun owners are supposed to keep their firearms inaccessible to juveniles, defined as anyone younger than 16.
This legislative session, state Reps. Joe Casello, D-Boynton Beach, and Dan Daley, D-Coral Spring, have filed House Bill 1087, which would limit the storage of firearms in motor vehicles or vessels. If the House bill passes, a gun left stored in a vehicle will be required to store it in a lockbox or a secure fashion.
Florida Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, filed Senate Bill 252, named the "Responsible Gun Ownership Act," which would require background checks and set other requirements for the sale or transfer of guns.Parker said he could potentially support measures that attempt to improve gun safety regulations.
"Anytime you can put things in place to make guns safe, it's going to be helpful, absolutely, as long as the public adheres to it," he said. "I think the sad part about it is we have laws in place and we still have these tragedies happen."
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Davenport boy dies after finding father's gun in car
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