By Eric Levy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Nov. 9, 2014) — The shooting of a young child inside a north side apartment overnight Saturday is the latest tragedy involving children and guns in Indianapolis.
On Monday, the Marion County coroner identified the boy as Damoni Troutman, 5. The coroner’s report said Troutman died from a gunshot wound to the head and ruled the case a homicide.
Over the past year, FOX59 found stories of five children who have been hurt or killed by either playing with a loaded gun or being shot by another child.
Without question one of the most heartbreaking stories being told is what happened Saturday night. The family is feeling unimaginable pain, but did not feel up to talking with FOX59 Sunday evening. This story brings to mind all of the other times when kids had access to guns with tragic consequences.
In December 2013, a 3-year-old boy died after he pulled a loaded gun off a kitchen counter and accidentally shot himself in the head.
This past March, police said a 3-year-old girl survived after she picked up a loaded gun from the couch and accidentally shot herself in the hand.
Then, in May 2014, a 6-year-old girl found a gun in the back room of a family friend’s house and shot herself in the arm and hand.
It’s enough to bring to mind how important it is to keep weapons safe.
“Don’t leave them out for a second, because these sorts of things, they happen very quickly,” said Officer Christopher Wilburn with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Detectives aren’t willing to release any more details about the overnight Saturday shooting, but they are investigating and may say more this week.
