Detectives said the boy found an unsecured gun inside the house and shot himself.
POINCIANA, Fla. — A young boy was hospitalized Thursday after an accidental shooting inside a home in Poinciana, where detectives said he gained access to an unsecured firearm and shot himself in the chest.
The shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. at a home on Amber Way, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Chris Blackmon said family members, including other children, were inside the house when the child got hold of the gun. Someone in the home called 911, and the first deputy to arrive began giving medical aid before paramedics took over.
The boy was flown to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando, where officials said he was in stable condition. Blackmon said the child is expected to recover, describing the outcome as one that could have been much worse. “This case could have resulted in a fatal tragedy,” the sheriff said while discussing the investigation.
Detectives have not publicly identified who owned the gun or exactly where it was kept inside the house. Blackmon said the weapon was accessible enough for the child to reach it, and investigators are still working to determine whether criminal charges will be filed. He said the family has been cooperating with deputies.
The sheriff also pointed to Florida’s gun-storage law, which requires loaded firearms to be secured in a way that prevents access by children. Investigators said the case remains active as they review the circumstances inside the home and decide whether any violations apply.
Author note: Last updated April 10, 2026.