Off-duty deputy shot in hand by 3-year-old nephew while sleeping in Spring home. A shocking incident occurred on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, when an off-duty Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy was accidentally shot in the hand by his 3-year-old nephew at their Spring home in Precinct 4. The shooting took place around 11:30 a.m. in the 20200 block of Woodsboro Court in north Harris County.
According to authorities, the gun was holstered and securely stored when the child managed to get hold of it, resulting in the accidental discharge. Fortunately, the off-duty deputy received treatment at a hospital and is currently in stable condition.
The deputy's mother was present at home during the incident, but details about her role or any potential involvement are not available. An ongoing investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify any responsible parties.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of gun safety and the need for strict precautions when storing firearms, especially around young children.
According to authorities, the gun was holstered and securely stored when the child managed to get hold of it, resulting in the accidental discharge. Fortunately, the off-duty deputy received treatment at a hospital and is currently in stable condition.
The deputy's mother was present at home during the incident, but details about her role or any potential involvement are not available. An ongoing investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify any responsible parties.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of gun safety and the need for strict precautions when storing firearms, especially around young children.
Oh man, this is just crazy! Like what were they thinking with leaving a loaded gun unattended in front of a 3-year-old? 
I mean, we all know accidents can happen, but this is just pure negligence on the part of whoever was responsible for storing that gun. And to think the little dude didn't even mean to do it, it's just a horrific mistake.
Those details are super sketchy and I need to know more. This whole thing is just so disturbing... like, how can you leave that kind of risk around your child? It's just not right. We gotta get stricter on gun laws and make sure these types of incidents never happen again 
can u believe this 
it's like what even is happening here? and i feel bad for the mom she was there but details are sketchy rn 
anyway guns are super serious business and we gotta take precautions, like seriously dont leave them within reach of little ones 
. I know accidents can happen, but come on! This kid should be able to get his hands on a toy without worrying about getting hurt by a real gun 
. I know we're supposed to be a "gun-friendly" country and all that, but sometimes it feels like people forget about the risks involved with owning firearms.
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This is just another example of how we're all so caught up in being prepared that we forget to be present... I mean, come on! A 3-year-old kid shouldn't even have access to a gun, let alone know how to handle one properly. And the fact that it was holstered and stored securely didn't stop this from happening? 
. The fact that the gun was holstered and supposed to be safe just shows how careless people can be when it comes to storing firearms. It's like, come on! Get a locked cabinet or something! 
I'm just glad the deputy is stable, but this incident could've gone so much worse... 3-year-olds are not exactly known for their impulse control 
. Still, gotta give props to the kid's mom for being present at home, that's not always easy to do 
. Anyways, this incident is definitely a wake-up call for all us gun owners out there - we need to be more vigilant and keep our guns out of reach of little rascals like that 3-year-old 
They must've been playing with the gun, who knows, but it's a huge wake-up call for all of us, especially parents. We need to be so much more responsible about storing our guns and keeping them out of reach of little ones. I'm glad the deputy is okay, but this incident should never have happened in the first place. It's time we take gun safety seriously and make some serious changes 
. and the fact that the gun was just holstered & stored properly yet still managed to fire is like, a huge warning sign right there... safety first, people! 
the deputy's lucky he didn't lose his hand for real. and what about the mom?! did she not keep an eye on her little one? so many questions left unanswered...