3-year-old shot himself in the foot at Detroit home, family says - Fox 2 News Headlines

By Ronnie Dahl
Fox 2 News

DETROIT (WJBK) -- Three-year-old Marcell Dukes is a little guy with a big smile.

"So energetic. Fun to be around," cousin John Redmond said. "Lost a couple of his teeth, so he [has] this little vampire smile, but I swear the [most handsome] kid in the world."

Family members told us Marcell was in his bedroom with his mother when he got his hands on a loaded gun and it went off.

"I was getting ready for work and I heard a pow, and I heard them running down the stairs. I asked her what happened. She said my nephew mistakenly shot himself in the foot. We called the ambulance. They came," said uncle Dearres Freeman.

It happened at a house in the 20000 block of Forrer Street around 11:00 a.m. Thursday. Three adults and three kids were home at the time.

"My mother [and I], my sister and her three kids," Freeman said.

He also told us he doesn't know who owns the gun.

William Hailey, another uncle, said his brother lives at the home.

"I have no knowledge that he ever had a pistol in the house," he told me.

Detroit Police recovered the gun, but nobody is claiming ownership. Meanwhile, Marcell was transferred to Children's Hospital to undergo surgery on his left foot.

"I asked him [if he was] okay. He seemed to be pretty cool. He wasn't crying or anything, so he took it like a big boy," Freeman said.

The boy is expected to recover.  Meanwhile, Detroit Police continue to investigate.