Tragedy struck in Ohio when a pregnant Ohio mother lost her life after being accidentally shot in the back by her 2-year-old son. According to Police Chief David Smith of Norwalk, multiple calls to 911 were made by the woman last week, prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
Identified as 31-year-old Laura Ilg, she informed the operators that she had been shot in the back and was in shock, struggling to breathe. Police discovered Ilg conscious but injured on the bedroom floor, with a Sig Sauer Micro 9mm gun found on the nearby nightstand.
During the distressing call, Ilg explained that her 2-year-old had unintentionally fired the weapon, unaware of its consequences. She was 33 weeks pregnant at the time. Despite immediate efforts to save the baby through an emergency cesarean section at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, doctors were unable to rescue the unborn child. Unfortunately, the mother passed away three hours later.
Chief Smith revealed that safety measures were in place throughout the house, but baby gates, usually closed, had been left open. She had been doing laundry in the bedroom, which was typically locked, and was unaware that her child had followed her. During this time that the toddler found the firearm and began playing with it, causing it to discharge.
Adding to the 9mm gun involved in the incident, police discovered a loaded shotgun and rifle within the residence. Smith urged families to secure their firearms and never leave them loaded and unattended. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.
The Norwalk Police Department expressed their deep condolences, acknowledging the heart-wrenching nature of the incident. In an online obituary, it was noted that Laura Ilg had always aspired to be a mother and a wife.
Unintentional shootings, particularly involving children, often occur within the confines of homes. Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization, analyzed data from 2015 to 2022 and found that the highest number of unintentional child shootings per day transpired during the summer months.
Shockingly, between 2015 and 2022, at least 895 children aged 5 and under accidentally accessed a firearm, leading to self-inflicted or other related injuries.
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Regrettably, similar incidents have unfolded in recent months. Earlier this year, a 6-year-old boy injured his infant sibling in a shooting incident. In Tennessee, a 3-year-old boy lost his life after accidentally shooting himself in June. During May, authorities reported that a 4-year-old girl unintentionally shot and killed another child in Illinois. In Georgia, a loaded gun left on the floor by the girl’s father resulted in critical injuries when she accidentally shot herself in the head.
These distressing incidents underscore the urgent need for responsible firearm storage and heightened awareness of child safety.
