Officer arrested after toddler shot himself in Homestead – NBC 6 South Florida
A Miami-Dade Schools Police officer was arrested after her 3-year-old son found her gun and accidentally shot himself in Homestead on Sunday, police confirmed.
Homestead Police identified the mother as Miami-Dade Schools Police officer Stephanie Jerez. She’s been charged with child neglect with great bodily harm.
Police officials said Jerez was preparing food when the child found the firearm and shot himself in the foot at a home on Southeast 10th Street sometime before 2 p.m.
The toddler was airlifted to a hospital in Kendall for treatment, where he was listed as being in stable condition.
An arrest report noted detectives found the gun on a kitchen counter with a large amount of blood nearby.
The firearm involved was personally owned and not her service weapon, according to Homestead Police.
The Homestead Police Department takes cases involving child endangerment very seriously, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and well being of all children in our community,” the department said in the statement. “The Homestead Police Department urges all gun owners to securely store firearms and to educate themselves and their families about gun safety.”
Miami-Dade County Public Schools also released a statement about Jerez’s arrest on Monday.
“Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is aware of a non-school related incident involving a Miami-Dade Schools Police officer that occurred over the weekend. The officer has been arrested by the Homestead Police Department. The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department has relieved the officer of duty pending the outcome of the investigation,” the statement read
In court on Monday, a judge set Jerez’s bond at $5,000 and ordered her not to use, purchase, possess or carry firearms or ammunition, unless it’s work-related.
“Stephanie Jerez’s son is recovering well. The judicial system and police department will understand that this is a tragedy that does not require additional punishment,” her defense attorney, Robert C. Buschel, said in a statement.
