Police officers demonstrated quick thinking and saved the life of a child in response to an incident involving a child being shot, earning praise for their actions. Officers from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office in Deltona, Florida, responded to a call on Boxelder Street where a five-year-old had accidentally shot themselves in the leg after accessing a shotgun under a family member’s bed.

Upon arrival, the officers found the conscious but injured child. The Sheriff’s Office shared body camera footage, albeit blurred for privacy and graphic content reasons, showcasing the officers comforting the child and providing emergency first-aid. Deputies Maletto, Kagle, Williams, Estrada, and Rodriguez swiftly administered aid, applied a tourniquet, and transported the child to Deltona Fire Rescue.

The child was subsequently taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital, with medical staff crediting the officers’ rapid response and tourniquet application for likely saving her life. Sheriff Mike Chitwood commended the officers’ decisive, compassionate actions and announced plans to award medals for their life-saving efforts.

Sharing the video on social media, Chitwood expressed pride in the deputies’ exemplary response. Social media users joined in, emphasizing the importance of securing firearms to prevent children from gaining access.

While no arrests have been made, police are actively investigating the incident and plan to forward their findings to the State Attorney’s Office for review.