A Buena Vista Township mother, Rachel M. Esckelson, 44, faces felony charges after her 12-year-old son accidentally shot himself with a gun registered to her. The incident occurred on February 9 when the boy, attempting to scare off coyotes threatening the family’s dogs, retrieved the firearm from his mother’s locked safe and accidentally shot himself in the leg, resulting in a broken femur. Esckelson appears in court facing a count of firearms-safe storage violation, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, as the law went into effect just prior to the incident in February 2024.
According to police, the child, initially reporting the shooting, confirmed it happened while he was outside, although investigations found no evidence to corroborate this account. Esckelson’s attorney argues that the firearm was stored safely, stating the boy had received permission to access it for protective reasons. As Esckelson awaits a preliminary examination set for March 18, the case raises questions about gun safety laws and parental responsibility in Michigan, particularly in light of upcoming changes to the state’s firearm regulations.
Read full story at www.mlive.com
