Florida Father Charged After 9-Year-Old Son Accidentally Shoots Neighbor’s Child While Searching for Pokemon Pens

---

A Florida man has been arrested on charges of negligence after his 9-year-old son accidentally discharged a firearm, seriously injuring a 5-year-old boy. The incident occurred in Palmetto, a small town near Sarasota, on March 25, when the younger child was struck in the chest while the older boy was searching for "Pokemon pens" in his father's bedroom.

According to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office records, Robert Giles, 36, faces one count of culpable negligence for leaving a loaded handgun within reach of a minor. The gun, a Canik 9mm, was found under the bed in the primary bedroom where the incident took place. The older boy, who had no intention of handling a firearm, discovered the weapon while searching for the pens and accidentally discharged it, striking the younger child in the chest.

The younger boy suffered serious injuries, including a fractured clavicle, punctured lung, and was intubated for five days. He remains hospitalized as he recovers from his injuries. Giles told deputies that the gun had been stored with a round in the chamber but without a magazine inserted, though it was still accessible to his son.

During the investigation, deputies found multiple firearms in a gun safe located within the same room where the shooting occurred. The safe was described as being in a "secured condition," but investigators determined the firearm was not stored in a manner that prevented access by a minor. Giles has been released on $2,500 bond after posting it and has entered a not guilty plea in court.

This case highlights the dangers of improperly securing firearms in homes where children are present. The defendant’s next court appearance is scheduled for an unspecified date.