Gun safety, mental health of first responders highlighted following tragic Walker County Christmas shooting

WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF)- We’re learning more about a shooting Christmas morning that left a toddler in critical condition.

Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson confirmed the child survived surgery Thursday.

What should have been the most fun morning of the year quickly became tragic yesterday in the Rock Spring area of Walker County on Tarvin Road shortly before 10 am.

The ongoing investigation revealed the father came home late Christmas Eve and left his loaded 9 millimeter handgun on his nightstand.

When he was dressing his infant child in another room Christmas morning, he heard a ‘pop’ noise from the bedroom.

He found his 2-year-old crying and bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head.

This is a situation that Mike Garren with Hamilton County EMS says they see frequently.

Garren said, “It’s always tough I mean, you train for these situations, but there’s no training for the emotional aspect of it…Unfortunately (firearm accidents involving kids) does happen. I’m not gonna say very often but you’re pretty regularly. It happens.”

According to data compiled by the CDC between 2003 and 2021, over 12-hundred children died in accidental shootings.

Garren says he hopes this can serve as a reminder to practice gun safety, especially if you have children in your household.

These tips, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, include keeping firearms away from children by storing them in a secure safe with a lock, unloaded.

They say it is also a good idea to keep ammunition in a separate safe.

Otherwise when carrying the weapon, keep it securely on you.

Garren said, “I can’t imagine putting myself in this parents situation you know no matter how safe we think things are I mean, we just have to go to special lengths when children are involved. You just have to go to the nth degree to ensure that everything you say things happen so quickly.”

He says an incident like this can be traumatizing given a child is involved.

Garren said, “Especially with children it’s tough anyway, but on a special holiday like Christmas folks that worked that, they’ll never forget this day. They’ll replay that call every Christmas for the rest their lives.”

He says that mental distress is far more recognized than it used to be.

Garren said, “PTSD is real in this business and you know it’s claimed a lot of lives over the years. Finally we have recognized that we’ve got to take care of ourselves and you know it’s been stigma with with the mental health and things of this this profession. It’s been a tough tough challenge to break down that wall, but we finally are. We’re doing better with it now so thankfully that that helps out a lot these situations.”

He says that supporting your first responders, and families involved in holiday tragedies like this are crucial.

Garren said, “Folks are all the time stopping thanking us for service, praying for us, and that’s the biggest thing. Just keep us in your thoughts and prayers and just know that we’re happy to take care of you.”

The Walker County Department of Family and Children’s Services is assisting with the investigation. 

The infant has been placed with relatives.

No charges have been filed at this time.