On Valentine’s Day in Flint, Michigan, a 3-year-old girl named Skye McBride was rushed to the hospital after accidentally shooting herself in the head with a loaded revolver she found in her father’s bedroom. The bullet passed through her right eye, causing a massive stroke. Her father, Michael Tolbert, is facing charges under Michigan’s safe storage law, which makes it a felony if a gun owner leaves a weapon unsecured and a child uses it to harm someone. Tolbert has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Photographer Cydni Elledge has been documenting Skye’s recovery, which doctors have described as a miracle, along with capturing ordinary moments like birthday parties and Christmas preparations. Everytown, a group advocating for firearm safety, reports that nearly every day in the U.S., someone is killed or injured because a child accidentally fired a gun. Children under the age of 6 are among the most likely victims in these incidents.
The tragic incident highlights the importance of gun safety and the need for responsible storage of firearms to prevent such accidents from occurring. The story of Skye McBride serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from a lack of proper gun storage, and the impact it can have on families and communities.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
