A Winter Haven woman is charged with child negligence after a 6-year-old boy shot himself in the right leg with a firearm, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the complaint, deputies began their investigation on June 5 after the youngster was transported to Winter Haven Hospital with a gunshot wound. The incident occurred in a home on Bishop James Cochran Way.
Nicole Felippe, the only adult at home with the youngster, reported hearing a cracking sound after coming out of the shower. Felippe told detectives that she went out, noticed blood, and took the youngster to the hospital.
According to the report, the child’s father informed deputies that he was out conducting errands when Felippe called to report an incident. According to the complaint, he returned home to find blood spattered inside and a little black revolver on the floor that he did not recognize. He claimed to have picked it up and placed it on a shelf before taking the child to the hospital with Felippe.
The investigation stated that neither adult called 911 or law enforcement before taking the child to the hospital.
According to the report, hospital officials informed deputies that the youngster had a tibia fracture and that the bullet looked to have entered via the thigh and exited through the shin.
Felippe refused to allow deputies into his home to collect evidence, according to investigators, and a search warrant was later issued by a judge.
During the search, deputies said they discovered what appeared to be cannabis, a scale, and a glass pipe in a bedroom that they said Felippe owned. A field test yielded a presumptive positive for THC, according to the report.
According to the report, Felippe was charged with negligence of a child resulting in grave bodily harm, cannabis possession, and possession or use of drug paraphernalia.
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