Mother charged after young boy finds gun, shoots himself

Published April 05, 2017

Authorities in Tampa say they've arrested the mother of a 4-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself in the chest earlier this year.

A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office news release says 24-year-old Delicia Forte was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated child neglect resulting in serious injury.

Deputies say the boy was home with his mother's boyfriend, 26-year-old Akia Thomas, on Jan. 24, when the child found a gun under a dresser. The boy underwent surgery and survived.

Forte had taken a 1-year-old child to day care, and another child was in school. The children are now in foster care.

Forte is free on $7,500 bail. Jail records didn't list whether she had an attorney.

Thomas remained in jail on charges including possession of a weapon by a felon.

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