A 2-year-old boy is in critical condition after accidentally shooting himself in the stomach with an unsecured firearm inside a home in West Philadelphia.
The incident took place around 1:45 p.m. on Monday, May 5, on the 5200 block of Delancey Street.
Authorities reported that the child found the firearm in a bedroom and fired a shot, resulting in a serious abdominal injury. He was immediately transported to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he underwent emergency surgery. His condition remains critical.
Following the incident, 20-year-old Rahmir Ponzo was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person. Investigators confirmed that the boy lives in the home and is related to Ponzo, although the exact relationship was not specified.
The case highlights growing concerns over accidental shootings involving children and unsecured firearms. Just hours after the toddler’s shooting, a 5-year-old girl in the same neighborhood was struck in the leg while sitting on her porch, intensifying calls for responsible gun storage and improved community safety efforts.
