Local

4-year-old, 2-year-old injured while playing with gun; family friend arrested

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Two children were rushed to the hospital after they were injured in an accidental shooting in Cobb County Monday afternoon.

Marietta police said a 4-year-old found an unattended handgun and fired a single round that hit the child and also struck his 2-year-old cousin.

The two were taken to Kennestone Hospital around 12:30 p.m. to be treated for their injuries. The 2-year-old has since been released. The 4-year-old was later transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Police say Johnnel Green, 23, left the gun on the patio of the apartment at Magnolia at Whitlock Apartments on 925 Whitlock Avenue.

After the shooting, an arrest warrant says Green “took the firearm and left the scene with it.”

The mother of the 2-year-old told Channel 2′s Chris Jose that Green is a family friend.

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Green was arrested and charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of cruelty to children 2nd degree, one count of reckless conduct and one count of tampering with evidence. He is in the Cobb County jail with no bond.

Police say they hope this is a teachable moment for everyone.

“If you know you’re gonna have kids around, or if you have kids yourself, you’ve got to do everything necessary to make sure those guns stay safe. and you put them out of the reach of children,” said Paul Hill with the Marietta Police Department.

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