A Jacksonville mother who was shot by her 4-year-old son in Putnam County two weeks ago is being accused by police of failing to properly secure the gun used.
Jamie Gilt, 31, has not been arrested yet but could face second-degree misdemeanor charges after the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday that it has completed its investigation and would be filing a complaint with the state attorney's office.
Gilt’s son was sitting in the back seat of her pickup truck on March 8 when he managed to access a .45 caliber handgun. Gilt had previously placed the loaded, unholstered handgun underneath the front seat, but it somehow slid to the back where her son was sitting in a booster seat.
He fired the weapon while Gilt was driving near State Road 20 and Rowland Avenue.
“The child removed himself from the seat, presumably to grab a toy from the floorboard, saw the gun, picked it up and accidentally fired through the rear of the driver’s seat striking [Gilt],” Putnam County Sheriff's Office Capt. Gator Deloach said at a Tuesday press conference.
Gilt was shot through the back and was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
The firearm is registered to Gilt, who has a legal permit to carry it. The sheriff's office didn't know her condition.
Gilt's son was sent to stay with family members, and she could face up to 180 days in jail, Deloach said.
“In the hopes of preventing tragedies like this in the future,” he said, “I do want to remind everyone that in the presence of a child, gun owners bear the additional responsibility of ensuring children do not gain unintended access to a firearm.”