GA Mom Charged After Child Shoots Self With Handgun: Police

DACULA, GA — A mother has been arrested after police say she was unaware her 4-year-old son retrieved a handgun from a glovebox, after which he shot himself in the hand, Gwinnett County Police said Friday.

Detectives have charged Nicole Johnson, 29, Winder, in connection with the shooting Wednesday in the 3400 block of Braselton Highway, police said.

Johnson told officers she was in a car in a parking lot, eating breakfast with her son and on the phone, when he got the gun from the glovebox, police said.

The boy was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. His condition was not immediately known.

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Johnson was arrested on charges of reckless conduct and was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail, police said. She has since been released on bond, police said.

“This incident serves as another serious reminder of the importance of properly securing firearms,” said Assistant Chief Chris Smith, commander of the Criminal Investigations Division for Gwinnett County Police. “Firearms should always be unloaded, locked and stored out of reach of children. A moment of inattention can have life-altering consequences.”

Also this week, a Sandy Springs father was arrested and faces murder charges in connection with the shooting death of his 2-year-old child Wednesday in the 2600 block of Sandalwood Drive, police said.

Officers arrested Richard Willis after his child was shot to death due to an "improperly secured firearm," police said. The child was pronounced dead on scene.