Toddler Accidentally Shoots Mom Dead While She Was Changing Baby’s Diaper
A Tulsa woman is dead after her toddler son accidentally shot her in the head while she was changing her 1-year-old daughter’s diaper, police say.
[su_center_ad]According to police, it appears that her 3-year-old son shot her with a semiautomatic handgun.
Christa Engles, 26, was pronounced dead at a local hospital just after 5:30 p.m. on Monday after being transported from her east Tulsa home in “grave condition,” according to KJRH.
Engles was found by the children’s grandmother after she arrived home to find the victim in the front room of the house with a gunshot wound to the head, police say.
Sgt. Dave Walker confirmed that the incident was an accidental shooting by the toddler.
Engles’ husband works out of state as a truck driver and he returned home around 8:00 p.m. after learning of the shooting.
According to a neighbor, the toddler found the gun underneath the couch. She added that Engles was in the Army.
Watch courtesy of KJRH:
H/T: The incomparable @CarlaAkins with thanks. [su_csky_ad]
Tommy6860 November 25th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
This is just terrible. :'(
The child is young enough that he won’t remember what happened. But when he gets old enough to reconcile it, there will be some guilt and a lot of blame. How in the f’ing hell, does a 3 year old get a hold of a loaded gun? This gun-nuttery has to end. The lives lost because of the sheer stupidity with the responsibility in gun ownership, is simply astounding!
M D Reese November 25th, 2014 at 9:09 pm
I’m at the point now where I really don’t mind if they just take themSELVES out. I hate it when there are children involved. They don’t have a choice in the situation.
Ingrid November 26th, 2014 at 9:02 am
I have quite a few memories from before I was three. Sketchy and sporadic and visual in nature, but quite a few.
mea_mark November 25th, 2014 at 7:58 pm
They hid the gun on the floor? What were they thinking. Idiocy, pure idiocy.
M D Reese November 25th, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Indeed. I mean, what toddler would think to pick up a gun they found on the floor and play with it?
CHOCOL8MILK November 25th, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Truly sad. The son will have a lot of guilt as he grows older. Also, it is a travesty that one (or both) parents are irresponsible gun owners. One would think to NOT leave a handgun where a toddler would find it (loaded hand gun at that).
tiredoftea November 25th, 2014 at 8:12 pm
The young boy will have no memory of this as he is too young. I suppose that’s fortunate, under the circumstances.
StoneyCurtisll November 25th, 2014 at 8:14 pm
He my not remember it happening…
But he will know about it…:(
tiredoftea November 25th, 2014 at 8:15 pm
He will likely be told, but persistent memories happen later in development.
whatthe46 November 25th, 2014 at 8:04 pm
why on earth does these gun owners feel its appropriate to just leave a gun out and about like a bowl of candy is beyond reason.
M D Reese November 25th, 2014 at 9:06 pm
Freedumb, and, and, uh–derp…
StoneyCurtisll November 25th, 2014 at 8:12 pm
How do you explain to a kid ‘you accidentally shot your mother to death when you were a toddler’…
Imagine living with that for the rest of your life.
M D Reese November 25th, 2014 at 9:06 pm
The only good news here is that the toddler probably won’t actually remember it firsthand.
tiredoftea November 25th, 2014 at 8:14 pm
Do we really need one more dead person to prove how dangerous this notion of guns in homes is? WTF is wrong with us as a nation that we allow gun zealots to run over the 2nd Amendment? Thanks NRA for yet another dead person for your wall of fame in your maniacal zeal to make everyone, everywhere at anytime armed and dangerous.
craig7120 November 25th, 2014 at 10:47 pm
She’s a martyr for those whose lives will be drastically diminished if they are not allowed to conceal carry inside a Walmart or Kroger
tiredoftea November 25th, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Yeah, now they can arm themselves against reckless toddlers in the toy and candy aisles.
rg9rts November 26th, 2014 at 1:15 am
Shoot them first ….stand your ground
mcalleyboy November 26th, 2014 at 2:38 am
Oh no we should turn in all our weapons and sing cumbia and join N Korea. Accidents, how many grandpas ran over their toddlers this year and squashed their heads, do we ban vehicles. You have the right to protect yourself and no legislation will tell you different, it’s your life, I do agree that some citizens shouldn’t own a weapon, how do you legislate that, stick on your government chart as oops.
jasperjava November 26th, 2014 at 5:59 am
How can getting shot by your own kid be called “protecting yourself”? There would be fewer “accidental” deaths, domestic violence homicides, and suicides if guns weren’t in people’s homes. The incidents of people using guns to “protect themselves” are extremely rare, compared to those where people are killed or injured by their own guns.
mcalleyboy November 26th, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Your a perfect candidate for North Korean citizenship, no guns allowed and what a joyful place to live. Guns save lives, it don’t make the news and isn’t worth reporting.
jasperjava November 26th, 2014 at 7:17 pm
It takes a simple-minded moron to say that there is no middle ground between North Korea and a Wild West free-for-all. Dozens of peaceful western democracies have common-sense gun control laws, and they are just as free as the United States, often more so. For one thing, people there are free to live their lives without worrying about getting shot by their toddlers.
mcalleyboy November 26th, 2014 at 7:32 pm
I would consider you an extremist liberal then or very un educated and uniformed about life in NK.
Richard Gray November 26th, 2014 at 11:02 pm
The woman wasn’t worried about getting shot by her toddler. That was the problem. There is no need for a solution based on that case. The parents, if they really stashed a loaded and ready to fire condition under the sofa (and if the child was really the one who shot it at the parent), made a mistake. No need for legislation to incarcerate parents who leave a loaded gun under a sofa with a three year old running around. No need to take away anyone else’s guns. I don’t need your “protection.”
Richard Gray November 26th, 2014 at 10:57 pm
Care to cite your source for your claim that incidents of people using guns to protect themselves are extremely rare? Come on, let’s see those numbers.
granpa.usthai November 25th, 2014 at 8:20 pm
maybe POTUS Obama should invite the kid to the White House (just to show the WHITE RACIST REPUBLICAN NAZIS like King that he doesn’t mind inviting shooters to the White House).
StoneyCurtisll November 25th, 2014 at 8:22 pm
I said it before..
And I will say it again…
“F” Peter King~!
annaaurora November 26th, 2014 at 8:40 am
and Joni Ernst.
searambler November 25th, 2014 at 8:58 pm
So sad. So preventable.
M D Reese November 25th, 2014 at 9:04 pm
How was this an accidental shooting on the toddler’s part?…
starskeptic November 25th, 2014 at 10:10 pm
I know – toddlers are mean.
M D Reese November 25th, 2014 at 10:40 pm
They are–very self-centered.
rg9rts November 26th, 2014 at 1:13 am
Adds a whole new meaning to terrible twos
annaaurora November 26th, 2014 at 8:40 am
three fisted three’s.
M D Reese November 26th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
I thought it was because it lasts for two years…
rg9rts November 27th, 2014 at 1:08 am
Probably the most egocentric part of human development and lasts about a year for most…some never grow up and just become politicians
M D Reese November 27th, 2014 at 2:15 pm
And of course once that happens, the terrible twos go on forever. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz come to mind.
rg9rts November 27th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
St Ronnie
M D Reese November 27th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
That man did and continues to do great harm to this country.
allison1050 November 25th, 2014 at 9:25 pm
Who the hell in their supposed right mind keeps a loaded gun under the sofa?
Spirit of America November 25th, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Being in their right mind precludes one from keeping a loaded gun under the sofa.
tracey marie November 25th, 2014 at 9:47 pm
a responsible gun owner leaves a loaded unlocked gun around so a child could get it…again
rg9rts November 26th, 2014 at 1:12 am
You know…LOL
FrankenPC . November 25th, 2014 at 9:52 pm
Live by the gun. Die by the gun.
John_St_John November 25th, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Some days you have to ask yourself just what side of reality you have woken up on. Did I eat the red or the blue pill and just what was it the door mouse said. Let’s go ask Alice.
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" November 25th, 2014 at 11:22 pm
I know, this must be a shock to some of you. But I don’t understand this one either.
harmonikasavingsbond November 25th, 2014 at 11:48 pm
Her 3 year old has a very powerful grip.
rg9rts November 26th, 2014 at 1:11 am
and a hair trigger
Fossil1944 November 26th, 2014 at 12:20 am
Place another trophy in the NRA’s Hall Of Shame. The NRA’s response will of course be; Guns don’t kill people, people with guns kill people. Where are the right to life people’s voices on this subject?…………WE don’t here YOU?
red-diaper-baby 1942 November 26th, 2014 at 12:40 am
Well, I guess that’s just collateral damage to my inalienable, god-given second-amendment rights!
(Unfortunately and unbelievably, I have to add the /s.)
Foundryman November 26th, 2014 at 1:00 am
Once again, a loaded gun left laying around where kids can get to it. Once again someone is dead. Once again some nitwit will try to call it an accident.
Who will it be tomorrow? How young? How many?
It sure is great to know there are so many gun owners out there who know exactly how to store and handle their guns responsibly so incidents like this are increasingly rare….
(rolling eyes)…..
mcalleyboy November 26th, 2014 at 2:34 am
Accidents happen, especially in a nation with over 330 Million. lets not forgot those 11 million illegal aliens, whats the new word for them, undocumented workers.
Kimberly Dart November 26th, 2014 at 9:34 am
The ONLY word for them is human beings….good God, I hate people like you.
mcalleyboy November 26th, 2014 at 7:09 pm
I’ll bet, sounds like you don’t live or are affected by the 11 million Latin Americans, good for you, I’ll have to make a move to your location.
jasperjava November 26th, 2014 at 7:23 pm
You’re “affected” by Latin Americans?
Not a bit racist, are you?
Richard Gray November 26th, 2014 at 10:50 pm
300 million or so people in the US. A handful of stories such as this one a year. Accidents happen. People make mistakes, such as leaving a loaded gun in a place where a child can get to it, or leaving a gate to the swimming pool open, or owning a car and accidentally backing over a child. Would you have swimming pools and cars banned as well?
be kind November 27th, 2014 at 8:39 pm
Do swimming pools and cars have purposes other than to kill or frighten people? Yes, they do. Therefore, we wouldn’t ban them unless there were more accidents with them than there is social utility of using them. The social utility of guns is pretty minimal compared to the many, many situations where they hurt or kill entirely innocent people.
woad2112 November 28th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
a year? Try a day…
rg9rts November 26th, 2014 at 1:10 am
Getting close to the end of the month for the NRA shooter of the month awards…just under the wire..
momsaid November 26th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
290 degreThe three cardinal rules of gun safety:
1) Every gun is loaded. treat it accordingly.
2) Never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
3) Be certain of your downrange.
*extra important: if you find a gun, don’t touch it, go tell an adult*
Obviously, the 3-yr-old was not trained in the Eddie Eagle course. Which is taught by the NRA. Which has received multiple awards for being the best.
In other words, when you imply that the NRA teaches, encourages, advocates or trumpets irresponsibility, know that you couldn’t be more wrong.
rg9rts November 26th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Neither is the 3 month old…also in the running
mcalleyboy November 26th, 2014 at 2:33 am
I can’t forget that 3 month old that shot a man with a weapon, story you shared, turned out to be bullcrap. I’m positive that your next toddler story will be about an embryo shooting its mother. Sure wish that people would keep on all gun related issue’s and not focus on idiotic, lunatic shared stories such as this.
jasperjava November 26th, 2014 at 5:52 am
Deny, deny, deny.
That is all that the fascist gun freaks can do at this point.
Richard Gray November 26th, 2014 at 10:46 pm
Deny what?
gladitsnight November 30th, 2014 at 3:23 pm
This story.
Jeanne_G November 26th, 2014 at 8:57 am
Don’t be so stupid. That was an error, nothing more. The child involved was 3 YEARS old not months. The victim was Patrick Sanders; look it up. It’s too bad they made a mistake and too bad they’ve yet to correct it, but it wasn’t “bullcrap” it was poor writing/editing.
mcalleyboy November 26th, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Have your heard any positive gun stories on Liberaland. If I was to believe all the information handed out to me I’d have to give up my gun because my grandson will shoot me and I won’t have to worry about a bad happening it’s just a bad news and chances are I’ll never be a victim of crime.
gladitsnight November 30th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
Some kind of stupid.
gladitsnight November 30th, 2014 at 3:23 pm
I guess you’ll have to go to Oklahoma and visit these people to see for yourself that it happened.
Economist2011 November 26th, 2014 at 7:33 am
live by the gun, die by one. 2nd amendment gunhuggers will eventually darwin themselves out of existence.
annaaurora November 26th, 2014 at 8:35 am
We seem to be on a roll. Which I have no problem.
Mephistophiles November 26th, 2014 at 9:52 am
Yeah, it’s a shame that kids sometimes are the victims.
disqus_9hGcgJwej7 November 27th, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Wishful thinking. If mankind’s survival is ever tested all the armed yokles will take over the gardening hipsters. Pray for armed liberals.
mea_mark November 27th, 2014 at 5:25 pm
If they come around this liberals garden I will blow them away like I do the rabbits, hogs or whatever other nefarious beast or critter trespasses in my humble garden. There are more armed liberals than you think, we just don’t showboat it, it’s all business and only when necessary.
be kind November 27th, 2014 at 8:34 pm
I don’t think we have time to wait for that – there are a lot of them.
DrSnake November 26th, 2014 at 9:22 am
I’m sorry but this story stinks as bad as that diaper. I hope the cops are continuing to investigate.
Mephistophiles November 26th, 2014 at 9:50 am
This story is full of WIN! One less gun nut, and one child who’ll never touch a gun again.
VJ November 28th, 2014 at 12:29 pm
Clearly the mom’s life is immaterial to you
ShelleysLeg November 26th, 2014 at 10:56 am
So, not JUST a gun under the sofa, but a loaded one? Were they target shooting at cockroaches? Spiders? OMG, the stupidity is unreal!!
Hunter Lee Thames November 26th, 2014 at 5:55 pm
I met a couple when I visited My Grandparents at Texas last Christmas. They had 5 Kids. 3 Sons and 2 Daughters. They were all very young. Pre-adolescent. Anyways the Couple stashed loaded Hand Guns all over the House. In the sofa cushions…. In the mattress’s In the cabinets. In the back of the fridge. Apparently in case of a Home invasion or something.
gladitsnight November 30th, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Obviously, one or more of their children will be killed before a home invasion ever happens.
radsenior November 26th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Denial is so painful! Guns don’t people – people kill people!
jasperjava November 26th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
How does a toddler kill his mother, unless he has access to a firearm?
The equation is fairly simple:
Child + gun = dead Mom
Child – gun = living Mom
Andrew R. Weiner November 27th, 2014 at 9:02 am
not withstanding the death of a probable wonderful mom, these kids are now motherless. He may or may not fully remember the incident, but surely will be reminded of it from time to time. Now lets talk about the crime. The dad leaves a gun tucked in the sofa ?? Seriously ? He now has to live with this. In Massachusetts, he would most likely be prosecuted. I was an NRA LEO instructor for years. You will never find a weapon loaded in my house unless it is on my hip and I am in DIRECT control of it at all times. Otherwise, they are locked up in a safe with a biometric failsafe.. I feel for the family, i really do, but the father is a careless idiot
David Mansfield November 28th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Don’t know if it was Dad who left it there. Mom may have as well.
passiveagressiveshade December 5th, 2014 at 6:22 am
You should not assume that he left it there it is very likely that she did, as a truck driver wife myself I can tell you that we keep weapons to stay safe but guns should always be locked up
liberalMD November 29th, 2014 at 3:02 am
All of these tragedies involving firearms and yet nobody flinches at the NRA.
gladitsnight November 30th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Negligence on the part of both parents, now the little boy will have to live with this the rest of his life. When will people learn to keep their guns locked up??
Peter Payne December 10th, 2014 at 11:14 pm
“The mother should have had a gun too. Then the toddler would have thought twice before shooting.”
LOL America, I can’t even be sad anymore. Let’s make a national game show out of gun violence and have done with it.