Detroit authorities have filed charges against Morris Stephen Brown, 34, following an incident where his 6-year-old son accidentally shot himself with an unsecured firearm. Brown faces multiple charges including firearms violations, unsafe storage, and possession as a felon.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:35 p.m. on May 22, at a residence in the 3100 block of Ethel St. Reports indicate that the young boy found the unsecured firearm and suffered an injury to his thumb after discharging the weapon. He was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Morris Stephen Brown was arraigned on June 20 and was issued a $50,000 personal bond. As a condition of his bond, he is prohibited from possessing any firearms. His legal proceedings include a probable cause conference scheduled for June 27 and a preliminary examination set for July 2.
This incident underscores ongoing concerns about gun safety in Michigan, particularly after recent legislative changes in February aimed at tightening firearm regulations. The new laws mandate that firearms must be kept unloaded and securely locked in cases where children are reasonably expected to be present on the premises.
This unfortunate event follows other recent incidents in Michigan involving children gaining access to unsecured firearms, including a 2-year-old in Flint and an 8-year-old in Warren, both of whom suffered serious injuries after accidentally shooting themselves. Another case involved a 3-year-old child in Eastpointe earlier this month, with investigations ongoing under the scrutiny of the prosecutor’s office.
Authorities continue to stress the importance of responsible firearm ownership and adherence to updated safety regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
