Children Left in the Car in Wal-Mart Parking Lot Find Loaded Gun. One Accidentally Kills the Other!

Almost everyone can recall a memory of being left in the car while their parent ran into a store to grab a few things. I have vivid memories of my brother goofing off in the car while we were waiting in a friend's driveway. Our mother had gone into the house to pick up an item from her friend and she left the two of us, probably at age 3 and 4, with another 3 year-old friend. My brother decided to "drive" the car, knocking the gear shift into reverse and the car went rolling backward down the driveway and into the street. My mother emerged from the house, chasing the car, threw open the door and climbed in while it was picking up speed. She slammed on the brakes, out of breath, looking at her crying children. . . she was terrified but, that day she learned a valuable lesson. Children left alone can do dangerous things.

No parent ever thinks that their child will do something dangerous in their absence but, they do. Thankfully we were all safe and no one lost their life but, one Dallas family wasn't so lucky.

Earlier this morning a pair of children left alone in a car in a Wal-Mart parking lot found a loaded handgun. The children, ages 9 and 11, were left there by a 32-year-old woman who ran into the store to pick up a few things. Moments later, tragedy struck.

Police said they responded to the shooting at around 12:40 p.m. at the location in the 2800 block of South Buckner Boulevard. When they arrived they found the 11-year-old boy wounded and bleeding. He was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Authorities have said that the two children were not related and have not released the identity of the victim nor the woman who left them. The presumed shooter will not be identified due to his age.

We extend our sincere condolences to this family and want to implore every one else to be mindful of their firearms and make sure that they are stored in a secure location where children can not gain access to them. Also, with the rate of car jackings and thefts rising, please stop leaving children in cars unattended.

This incident is still under investigation.