Florida woman arrested after 3-year-old child grabs loaded gun, fires it

Abbie Maldonado accused of felony child neglect

DELTONA, Fla. – A woman was arrested on Monday after a 3-year-old child got her loaded gun and fired it, subsequently shattering the driver's side window.

The child was unharmed, deputies said.

Recommended Videos



Abbie Maldonado had the child with her as she was going to pick up her son from Good Shepherd Academy on Howland Boulevard in Deltona.

Maldonado left the child in the vehicle with the door propped open and went to walk around.

Deputies said she was talking with other parents and heard a loud bang, but did not realize that the gun had deployed.

She went to check on the child and then began walking around again, deputies said.

Deputies said when she took the child to the bathroom, she didn't realize anything was wrong.

Upon returning to her vehicle she heard glass cracking from the front driver’s side window that was shattered.

After asking to see if anyone was by her vehicle, she noticed that her loaded gun wasn’t in the driver’s side door pocket and it was in the front seat, deputies said.

Maldonado checked the child for injuries and reported the incident to the school.

“Nobody’s hurt, but we had a parent that has a concealed weapon permit and a child got a hold of it and pulled the trigger,” the caller said.

Deputies said Maldonado told them that she normally keeps the gun locked in the trunk.

Maldonado was suspicion of felony child neglect.