Sheriff says unsecured firearm was within reach of child at Poinciana house.
POINCIANA, Fla. — Detectives in Osceola County are investigating after a young boy was wounded in an apparent accidental shooting Thursday afternoon inside a Poinciana home.
Sheriff Chris Blackmon said the incident was reported around 3:30 p.m. at a residence on Amber Way. According to deputies, the child found an unsecured handgun while relatives and other children were inside the home. The boy then shot himself once in the chest before a family member called 911 for help.
A deputy who reached the scene first began emergency aid until medics arrived, authorities said. The child was later flown to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando. Blackmon said the boy was in stable condition and appeared likely to recover, calling the outcome fortunate given how easily the shooting could have turned deadly.
Investigators have released few details about the firearm itself, including who owned it and where it had been left. Blackmon said those questions remain part of the ongoing investigation. He also said charges are possible as deputies continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding how the child was able to reach the weapon.
The sheriff used the case to stress that gun owners can face legal consequences when loaded firearms are not properly secured around children. Authorities said the family is cooperating, but the investigation is still open and no charges had been announced as of Friday.
Author note: Last updated April 10, 2026.