New York City Councilman for the 14th City Council District and majority whip, Fernando Cabrera, called for stronger gun safety awareness for registered weapons on Monday, Jan. 18, on the same day that police reported a child in the Bronx suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

 

NYPD confirmed to Norwood News by phone that on Monday, Jan. 18, at 12.30 in the afternoon, at Fordham Hill Oval in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx, an 8-year-old boy was shot in the head. He was transported to New York (Columbia) Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition. When asked if the NYPD could confirm who shot the child, police said the incident was still under investigation.

 

In an initial press release issued on Monday at 2.26 p.m., Cabrera made reference to the shooting of a child, describing the gunshot as self-inflicted. “Today, an eight-year-old child accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun he found in his family’s apartment, and was rushed to the hospital,” Cabrera said. “My heart is breaking for this child, and his family.” Norwood News cannot corroborate this assertion regarding a self-inflicted shot at this time. The councilman initially went on to say that it was not known if the gun was registered or if the owner was in legal possession of the firearm.

 

“The results are tragic for this child and his family,” Cabrera said. “We absolutely must get all illegal guns off our streets and out of people’s possession. Anyone with a legal, registered firearm must strictly adhere to safety measures, especially if there are children in the home.” Cabrera said if people have a legal gun in the home, it should be locked and unloaded. “Keep ammunition in a separate location, and make sure children and teenagers cannot access the location with keys or combinations to safes,” he said.

The councilman also pleaded with those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them to their local NYPD precinct. “New York State law allows people who illegally possess a firearm to surrender it to law enforcement without being prosecuted,” Cabrera said. “I’m praying for the child and his family.”

 

At 3.19 p.m. on the same day, an updated press release referring to the same shooting incident was issued by the councilman’s office in which Cabrera wrote, “We now know the gun was legally registered, but the results are tragic for this child and his family.” Norwood News is not in a position to corroborate this assertion regarding the status of the gun registration at this time.

 

Cabrera reiterated his earlier message about gun safety and keeping guns out of the reach of children. He added, “I’m grateful to NYPD 52nd precinct and EMS, FDNY for their fast and effective response to this unfortunate event.”

 

At 4.22 p.m. on the same day, the councilman’s office issued a further updated press release which read, “This afternoon New York City Council Member and Majority Whip Fernando Cabrera clarified that the weapon that was accidentally fired by a child, resulting in a gunshot to the head was illegally possessed.”

 

The councilman reiterated his earlier assertion that the child in question “accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun he found in his family’s apartment and was rushed to the hospital.” Cabrera reiterated his initial calls for those in possession of an illegal firearm to surrender them to their local NYPD precinct. Norwood News is not in a position to corroborate these latest assertions regarding whether or not the gun was legally or illegally obtained, or whether the gunshot was self-inflicted or otherwise. According to the NYPD, the incident is under investigation.

 

Norwood News previously reported on one of several gun buyback events held in the Bronx in recent months, hosted by Bronx District Attorney, Darcel D. Clark, at which 136 guns – mostly revolvers and semi-automatic pistols – were turned in to the authorities on Saturday Oct. 24, 2020 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in the Wakefield section of the Bronx.

 

Seventy-four participants in the gun buy back event received an iPad courtesy of the Bronx DA’s Office and the New York Yankees, as well as a cash card in exchange for the arms recovered.