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Jameer Walker, 24, surrendered to Caln Township police soon after the July incident and is charged with endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangerment, and carrying a firearm without a license, according to Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan.
It all happened on July 30 when officers were called to the parking lot of Caln Plaza on the 1800 block of Lincoln Highway in Coatesville for the report of a child shot in the leg.
When they arrived, police found the Thorndale man on the ground holding the toddler, who was bleeding profusely from the hip and groin.
Officers treated the boy as much as they could until EMS workers arrived and rushed him to Paoli Hospital, authorities said. He fortunately survived.
An investigation revealed that the child had easy access to the loaded gun because Thorndale had left it unsecured in the car while he was outside talking with another person, according to prosecutors.
The child shot himself one time in the groin area.
“This is a tragic but all too frequent incident of a child gaining access to a loaded firearm and shooting themselves or someone else," DA Ryan said.
"Fortunately, this child will survive. But it is a lesson for everyone – fathers, mothers, friends, and neighbors – to keep all firearms secured and out of reach of children. Firearm-related injuries are now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States. We must do better.”
Walker was released from custody after posting $5,000 bail, authorities said. His preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 28.
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