8-year-old boy died after his older brother placed one of the rifles his parents kept unsecured in the home on the bed before it went off and hit him in the neck; parents charged
Minnesota – In a shocking case in Minnesota where authorities uncovered a troubling pattern of firearm negligence, a 42-year-old father, identified as Theodore S., and a 39-year-old mother, identified as Danielle S., were each charged with gross misdemeanor negligent storage of firearms after their 8-year-old son was accidentally killed by a rifle that had been left accessible to the couple’s five children.
The charges, filed on September 30, allege that the parents failed to safely secure their firearms, directly leading to the tragic shooting inside their home. According to the charges, the parents may each face up to only a year in jail and a $3,000 fine if convicted. The case hinges on a haunting detail: of the dozens of firearms found throughout the family’s home, only one was secured. The firearms were discovered in bedrooms, closets, and other open areas, all easily within reach of their children, who ranged in age from 8 to 14.
It was the morning of September 4 when authorities were called to the couple’s home. The 8-year-old boy had been shot in the neck. His older brother told investigators that after their father left for work, he took a rifle from the house and placed it on their parents’ bed. The child claimed they didn’t insert any bullets and believed they had checked if it was loaded—but as the rifle hit the bed, it discharged. The bullet struck the young boy in the neck. Danielle, who had reportedly been walking outside at the time, rushed to accompany her injured son to the hospital. Despite emergency efforts, the boy died later that day.
Sheriff’s deputies who later searched the home made a grim discovery. There were 14 firearms found inside the parents’ bedroom, with many of them loaded. Thirteen more were found in a nearby closet. Seven additional firearms were discovered near the front door. Only one had any sort of security measures in place. According to law enforcement, all others were within easy reach of the children.
The boy’s death was ruled accidental, but investigators and prosecutors concluded that the tragedy was preventable and directly tied to the parents’ reckless decision to leave dangerous weapons unsecured around children. Following the incident, the couple’s four surviving children, ages 10 to 14, were placed into protective custody. That order was rescinded a month later. Neither Theodore nor Danielle was arrested; instead, they were charged by summons and are expected to appear voluntarily in court. Their initial hearings are scheduled for November 3. For now, no bond has been set in the case.
The shooting has sparked concern across the local community and reignited debates about responsible gun storage. Despite the couple’s claim that they never intended harm to their children, the sheer number of firearms left unguarded and within reach presented a different picture for investigators. The grief of losing a child is unthinkable. But for prosecutors, what made this case criminal was that the young boy’s death was both senseless and avoidable—an innocent life lost because those tasked with protecting him failed to safeguard the very weapons that ended his life.
