Grandma Accidentally Shoots Toddler With AK-47

WARREN (WWJ) - A Macomb County toddler is hospitalized after authorities say she was accidentally shot with an AK-47.

According to Warren Police Chief Bill Dwyer, the 3-year-old girl was injured Wednesday morning while her grandmother was attempting to get rid of a weapon in the 13300 block of Charlotte Ave., in the area of 9 Mile Rd. and Groesbeck in Warren.

Dwyer said the grandmother had discovered the rifle on the second floor or her home, under a bed.

"She was trying to remove the gun and unload the gun when it accidentally discharged," Dwyer told WWJ's Lauren Barthold. "It (the bullet) went through the second floor to the first floor, striking the 3-year-old in the leg -- just a grazing wound."

"After the shot struck the 3-year-old, it traveled down to the the basement area, nearly missing an 18-year-old," the chief continued. "So we're very fortunate that we don't have two dead."

Dwyer said it was initially believed that the little girl had been wounded in both legs, but it turned out to only be the one. She was taken by EMS to Macomb hospital for treatment of "non-life threatening" injuries, and was last listed in stable condition.

Someone who walked into the home, who did not want to be identified, told WWJ's Sandra McNeill that the child was talking and smiling and was going to be OK.

It's unclear at this time how the weapon ended up in the house, but Dwyer said it is believed it belongs to someone else who lives there. He did not elaborate.

Area residents are rattled by the incident, including Randall Jeffries, who said he can't believe his neighbor would own that kind of weapon.

"You should never have that," he told McNeill. "This is a safe neighborhood. You should never have anything like that."

"That's crazy, man," added 19-year-old Reginald Dawson, who lives next door. "Because, you know, I got a whole bunch of, like, little cousins, you know what I'm sayin'? I can't even barely (imagine) them getting hut by an AK bullet...That's messed up."

Detectives remained at the home into the afternoon as an investigation continued. Dwyer said the grandmother has been very cooperative with investigators, but he added that charges are expected to be filed.