Irresponsibility = Tragedy!

November 14, 2006

Three-Year-Old Dies from Self-Inflicted Gunshot

Shannon found their son, Wyatt, lying on the master bedroom floor bleeding from his mouth and nose. When she picked him up she noticed a .380 caliber pistol lying on the floor. Three-Year-Old Dies from Self-Inflicted Gunshot, Father Arrested

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Perry County - Monday evening, October 13, Indiana State Police arrested Kenneth Cronin, 43, of Tobinsport, after his three-year-old son died from a self-inflicted gunshot in their rural Perry County home.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Kenneth Cronin returned home from deer hunting at approximately 6:00 p.m. While Kenneth was preparing a pizza for dinner, Shannon Cronin, 38, left their residence for a short period. After putting the pizza in the oven, Kenneth fell asleep on the couch in the living room. Shannon Cronin returned home approximately one hour later and noticed that the pizza was burning. She woke up her husband and inquired where their three-year-old son was. Several seconds later, Shannon found their son, Wyatt, lying on the master bedroom floor bleeding from his mouth and nose. When she picked him up she noticed a .380 caliber pistol lying on the floor. After calling 911, Kenneth started to drive his son toward Tell City to meet an ambulance. After driving nearly five miles, the ambulance and a Perry County Sheriff’s Deputy met Kenneth and his son on S.R. 166 but Wyatt had died. The Perry County Coroner pronounced Wyatt dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound to his chest. Further investigation revealed that the unsecured pistol was located in a television cabinet in the master bedroom. Kenneth Cronin has a felony drug conviction which prohibits him from possessing firearms.

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THIS IS THE VERY KIND OF THING THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE !!

Let me be the first to say that an individual like this is not worthy of consideration into the same class of people who consider themselves part of the law-abiding, ethical, and responsible hunting group of which we belong! and I will make no apologies if anyone finds my opinion offensive. We are fortunate enough as it is to be allowed to possess firearms, and we have enough polititians breathing down hunters' necks to try to take away our second amendment without incidents such as this.

I not only blame the father, but also the mother. Surely she knew the father was in violation by being in possession of a firearm after being a convicted felon, and she took no action to remove the firearm from the home, or to secure the gun from access by the child.

Sorry, but this happened in my neighborhood. I am absolutely livid, and needed to vent amongst others that I hope will understand how I feel right now.

(Hope I don't get kicked off here for this)... what a crying shame it is.

bigmoss · November 14, 2006