Updated: Police have charged the father of a three-year-old child, who accidentally shot and injured herself at property on North Creek Road, Ballina on Tuesday (May 24).
At about 7pm police say the girl found an unsecured replica air pistol (BB gun), which she allegedly discharged , shooting herself in the leg.
Police allege her 39-year-old father did not have a licence for the gun and had not locked it away safely. He will face court on July 14.
The child has since undergone surgery to remove the projectile at Ballina District Hospital.
Officers attached to Richmond Local Area Command were notified and attended the hospital and commenced an investigation.
Police seized the replica pistol and Det Insp Cameron Lindsay from Richmond LAC said even the owners of replica pistols had a responsibility to safely store them safely.
‘We have very strong and strict gun laws in NSW with respect to storing firearms. A replica air pistol – known as a BB gun – people may think of as relatively harmless but in the hands of a child it can be very dangerous,’ he told ABC radio.
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