Florida — Officials were shocked when a toddler pulled a loaded gun from a toy box during a child welfare check. The welfare checks were in place to make sure the child was not at risk of negligence or abuse as he was living with an at-risk guardian at the time. While speaking with an adult who was present in the house the toddler reached into his toy box—usually filled with books—and pulled out a black 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
An officer reacted immediately by taking the pistol off the child and was horrified to find that a round was in the chamber and the safety was off. Rosalyn Faniel, who the officers were investigating for possible neglect, remained adamant that the gun was not hers. But a further search of the house revealed 9mm ammunition and six plastic bags of powder which tests identified as prescription opioids. Rosalyn was promptly arrested for child-neglect and her bail set at $3000. She was released on the 8th November but is awaiting trial.
We at DigZoo would like to nominate this child for the “Worst Timing of the Year Award” while also nominating the mother for “Worst Hiding Place of the Year Award”. We’d also like to take a minute out and ask you to picture how the officer involved must have felt when was speaking with a member of the public one moment, and was then suddenly faced with a toddler holding a loaded gun (and no safety on) the next. It certainly must have taken a great deal of bravery to reach out and take the gun in a calm and confident manner because that situation could have gone very wrong, very quickly, very easily.
Rosalyn Faniel (pictured) has been charged with child neglect because of the incident. Meanwhile, we at DigZoo would like to know what you think! Does this story strike you as one of the weirdest of 2017? Or one of the most horrifying? Do you chuckle at the bizarre timing? Or gasp at the idea that anyone would let a child near a loaded gun? Let us know in the comments below!
