Community learns all about gun, water and fire safety at special event at Mallison Park

JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – In an effort to keep people safe this summer, the USA Unlimited organization hosted a safety event at Mallison Park Saturday morning to focus on teaching children and adults about gun safety , water and fire.

There are countless cases of people accidentally shooting themselves or someone else, and these unfortunate situations aren't limited by age either. They can be children or adults.

That's why Dr. Camika Jerido and her organization USA Unlimited hosted their third annual event to teach about guns, water and safety.

“Secure weapons, and even if there is an adult, just make sure you are careful when handling your weapons. Even if you’re experienced, you still have to be careful because you never know if it’s going to trigger,” Jerido said.

There have been several cases of accidental shootings, two examples of which stand out in our field of vision.

A little more than a year ago in the Regency neighborhood, a 16-year-old was shot in the leg after the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said he and five others ages 12 to 16 years old was playing with a gun and the gun went off.

This teenager was treated for his injury.

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Jerido encouraged people to never leave their firearms outside and in the open unattended and to store them in a locked container or secure them with a trigger lock.

“If you have young children, please, please make sure you secure your weapons. You secure weapons or anything dangerous for children,” Jerido said.

In early January of this year, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office said Tyler Shepperd was charged with involuntary manslaughter after he was accused of accidentally shooting and killing a friend.

Deputies said Shepperd's friend mishandled a gun and passed it to Shepperd.

Investigators said Shepperd thought he was unloaded and pulled the trigger. The gun fired one shot and hit Shepperd's friend, who died at the hospital.

“Never hold a gun by the trigger. Never hold it by the trigger. Most of the time, they probably don't even know if there's any security or anything. I always advise keeping it pointed down,” Jerido said.

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Last year was the worst year on record for unintentional shootings by children and people under 18.

According to the gun safety group Everytown, there have been more than 400 cases of unintentional shootings.

Jerido said she organizes these events in order to help prevent these things from happening, which can be prevented in the first place.

“We have to stay consistent because when people have guns, they stay consistent in their gun purchases or whatever. For us, we’re going to stay consistent and that’s where we’ll be every year,” Jerido said.