10-year-old shot dead through bedroom wall as mother discharges gun, Georgia cops say

A 10-year-old boy was shot dead when his mother fired a pistol in the next room, according to Georgia police.

Now she faces multiple charges.

Officials responded to Grady Memorial Hospital on July 6 about a person who was shot, the Clayton County Police Department said in a July 11 news release.

When they arrived, they learned that the victim, who was a child, had died.

According to police, the child’s mother, 34-year-old Brittany Parks, and her boyfriend had taken the child to the hospital. Speaking to investigators, Parks said she was discharging a handgun when it fired, going through a wall and hitting her child, the press release said.

However, police said Parks and her boyfriend gave different accounts as to what led to the shooting.

According to the statement, she was eventually charged with negligent homicide, child cruelty and reckless conduct.

Authorities did not provide any further details.

Online records show Parks remained in jail on July 12 on $5,700 bail.

Gun Violence in the United States

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thousands of people die from gun injuries in the United States each year.

“Firearm injuries are a serious public health concern,” the agency said. “In 2020, there were 45,222 gun-related deaths in the United States — that’s about 124 people who die from a gun-related injury each day.”

Gun-related injuries were a leading cause of death in people aged 1 to 44 in 2020, and experts say the impact is far-reaching.

“Shooting incidents, including those in homes, schools, places of worship, workplaces, shopping districts, on the streets, or at community events, can affect the sense of security of entire communities and impact everyday decisions,” the CDC said.

Clayton County is about 15 miles south of downtown Atlanta.

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