According to
RawStory, 27-year-old William Monroe Simmons' daughter was in a playroom when she was accidentally shot with her .22 caliber rifle, which was left in the room on Tuesday afternoon.
According to
Opposing Views, The young girl was struck in the arm, and the bullet then traveled into her abdomen.
According to
WFMY, The girl was brought to the hospital, where she was being treated and was alert.
Simmons and Melisa Ann Mumpower are now being charged with failing to store a firearm to protect a minor, as well as a charge of felony child abuse and three counts of misdemeanor child abuse. Police say that they were charged with child abuse because of the children's living conditions.
Police are still investigating the incident, but the Randolph County DSS office opened their own investigation.
Deputies said that the incident was an accident, but neighbors are wondering how a toddler got her hands on a loaded gun. Some neighbors said the gun should have been kept in a safe place where kids could not reach it.
