Mother charged after 4-year-old son shoots himself

Released by the Gwinnett County Police Department

(Dacula, Ga., Feb. 20, 2026) – Gwinnett County Police detectives have charged the mother of a four-year-old who got ahold on a gun and shot himself in the hand.

On February 18, officers responded to 3470 Braselton Highway in reference to a four-year-old that had been shot.  When officers arrived, they met with Nicole Johnson (29, Winder) who said she was in a parking lot eating breakfast with her son in the car.  She told officers she was on the phone when she was not aware her son had retrieved a handgun out of the glovebox and was able to shoot the handgun, hitting himself in the hand. 

Johnson’s son was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Detectives have charged Johnson with Reckless Conduct.  She was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail and was released on bond. 

“This incident serves as another serious reminder of the importance of properly securing firearms,” said Assistant Chief Chris Smith, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division for the Gwinnett County Police Department. “Firearms should always be unloaded, locked, and stored out of reach of children. A moment of inattention can have life-altering consequences.”