TOLEDO, Ohio — A 12-year-old child was charged with felonious assault after a shooting incident Wednesday afternoon in central Toledo, leaving a 13-year-old with non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Palmwood Avenue.
According to the Toledo Police Department, the incident unfolded when the 12-year-old attempted to retrieve a firearm from the pants pocket of the 13-year-old. The act caused the weapon to discharge, striking the older child in the leg. The 13-year-old later walked into a nearby hospital for treatment. Police confirmed that the injuries were not life-threatening.
The 12-year-old was taken into custody and charged with felonious assault. The child was booked at the Juvenile Justice Center.
Further investigation revealed that the firearm involved in the incident was left unsecured at the residence. The homeowner, 27-year-old Jocelyn Benton, was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony count of endangering children. Authorities said Benton had stored the firearm in an unlocked Nike shoebox, making it easily accessible to the children.
Benton’s bond was set at $10,000, and she is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on February 6.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about firearm safety, particularly in households where children may have access to guns. Police continue to urge residents to take proper precautions to prevent accidental shootings, including safely storing firearms out of children’s reach.