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Father says 2-year-old son is fine after shooting himself with gun in NW Miami-Dade – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
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Father says 2-year-old son is fine after shooting himself with gun in NW Miami-Dade – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – A father gives an update on his son’s condition after the child was injured when he accidentally shot himself with a firearm in northwest Miami-Dade.

As of Friday afternoon, 2-year-old Justin remains in the hospital after suffering injuries to his finger and burns to his chest.

Justin’s father, Lazaro Perez Hernandez, said the child was fine and recalled the moment he heard the gunshot.

“At this point, I was really scared, but thank God it was nothing serious and thank God the baby is okay and that’s what’s important,” Perez Hernandez said.

The incident happened Thursday on Northwest 32nd Avenue near 103rd Street.

Once Miami-Dade firefighters arrived on the scene and located the child, he was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The loud gunshot was captured on a neighbor’s Ring camera.

According to Justin’s grandfather, Raul, the child was in the backyard with his father cleaning the family’s boat before the incident occurred. The 2-year-old got hold of the flare gun that was part of the boat’s safety kit before accidentally setting it off.

“I don’t know at what point it happened,” Perez Hernandez said. “He opened a cupboard, went into it and I felt something, I turned around and saw everything.”

Friday. The Florida Department of Children and Families arrived at the home, where they visited for about 20 minutes.

Although his son is fine, Perez-Hernandez warns other parents to keep an eye on their children.

“Be very careful, be very careful with something like that and keep it away from them,” he said.

Perez Hernandez will not be charged, and Miami-Dade police said the incident was ruled an accident and there was no negligence. They added that because the flare gun is considered an incendiary device, the criteria for storing a firearm does not apply.

Justin’s family told 7News he is expected to be released from the hospital either Friday night or early Saturday morning.

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