Mother's gun goes off in waiting room at Merit Health Central Medical Center

A 2-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound Wednesday in a Jackson hospital waiting room when her mother's gun went off, police said.Officer Colendula Green said a woman was waiting to be seen about 9:30 a.m. at Merit Health Central Medical Center when she went to a vending machine with her daughter, Green said. The woman dropped her purse and a gun inside went off, Green said."The bullet ricocheted off the vending machine and grazed the child," Green said. "I got a chance to see her. She's doing very well."The bullet grazed the right side of the girl's face, causing what Green said was a superficial wound.39004142Hospital officials said weapons are prohibited on the campuses of Merit Health facilities and said it was an isolated incident."It was addressed quickly, preventing serious harm to the patient and risk to others in the hospital," spokeswoman Robyn Pollack said.A woman who identified herself as the girl's aunt said she didn't know that her sister had a gun."Who wouldn't have one, you know what I'm saying? There's all these killings going around. You don't know what's going to happen," the woman, who identified herself only as Renee, said.The case is being investigated as an accidental gun discharge, Green said."She didn't mean to do it," Renee said. "My sister wouldn't do nothing to hurt her kids."Renee said she and her family weren't allowed to see her sister or niece at the hospital.Download the WAPT App.22758298

A 2-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound Wednesday in a Jackson hospital waiting room when her mother's gun went off, police said.

Officer Colendula Green said a woman was waiting to be seen about 9:30 a.m. at Merit Health Central Medical Center when she went to a vending machine with her daughter, Green said. The woman dropped her purse and a gun inside went off, Green said.


"The bullet ricocheted off the vending machine and grazed the child," Green said. "I got a chance to see her. She's doing very well."

The bullet grazed the right side of the girl's face, causing what Green said was a superficial wound.



Hospital officials said weapons are prohibited on the campuses of Merit Health facilities and said it was an isolated incident.

"It was addressed quickly, preventing serious harm to the patient and risk to others in the hospital," spokeswoman Robyn Pollack said.

A woman who identified herself as the girl's aunt said she didn't know that her sister had a gun.

"Who wouldn't have one, you know what I'm saying? There's all these killings going around. You don't know what's going to happen," the woman, who identified herself only as Renee, said.

The case is being investigated as an accidental gun discharge, Green said.

"She didn't mean to do it," Renee said. "My sister wouldn't do nothing to hurt her kids."

Renee said she and her family weren't allowed to see her sister or niece at the hospital.

Download the WAPT App.