A Franklin man and woman are facing felony neglect charges after a teenager in their care accidently shot himself in the hand with an unsecured weapon.
Amy Pennington, 33, and Jason Greear, 32, are each charged with a Level 5 Felony for neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily damage.
According to court documents, on August 22, an officer from the Franklin Police Department rushed to the Johnson Memorial Hospital emergency department after receiving allegations that a minor had sustained a gunshot wound to the hand.
Police met and spoke with Pennington, who informed them that the victim had shot himself with a firearm. She claimed that the incident happened when she was napping on the couch in the living room. She stated she awoke to a “loud pop” and found blood “everywhere” when she went to check on the juvenile.
Pennington stated that the juvenile told her he had shot himself. She then summoned her grandmother to help her babysit the other children. According to Pennington, the juvenile explained that he found the gun in the living room before to the accident.
She then took the juvenile to the ER for treatment. She also stated that the juvenile had previously expressed “interest” in the gun, and that she and her boyfriend, Greear, live in the home with seven other juveniles.
She stated that her boyfriend was at work when the alleged incident occurred inside the residence. Pennington stated that the firearm is generally kept locked in Greear’s truck, but he was unable to keep it there because his truck died the other day, according to court filings.
Pennington explained that the pistol was on a cabinet in a bathroom, and she thought it was “high enough to be out of reach.”
She claimed that Greear put it there after he went shooting the other day. The officer then spoke with the juvenile, who remembered seeing the handgun on top of the cabinet in the restroom.
The officer discovered that the victim had brought the weapon to the living room and continued to gaze at it. He claimed he was attempting to extract the bullet when he accidently “pulled the trigger too hard.”
He claimed the revolver then discharged and injured his finger, leaving “blood everywhere.” The victim stated that several other kids were present in the living room when the gun was fired.
“The gunshot wound appeared to have missed his bones, but did tear the flesh off his finger right near his knuckle,” court records stated.
Pennington then showed the police a bullet hole on a wall inside the house. She stated that she believed the bullet struck the metal-framed bunk bed, according to court filings.
As part of the inquiry, authorities spoke with Greear, who confirmed that he generally stores the gun where the youngster found it when he is home. He stated that “he has always told the kids if they want to see the gun, just ask, and he will show it to them,” according to court filings.
Police then discovered that the child may require surgery to restore his left ring finger, as the bullet wound left him missing a “dime-sized piece of flesh/skin.”
According to online court records, Pennington paid a $1,500 cash bond. Records do not yet show when she is due to appear in Johnson Superior Court 1 for her first hearing in the matter.
Meanwhile, Greear was detained after a warrant for his arrest was issued on Wednesday. He is scheduled to appear for his initial hearing on September 17.
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