Ronnie Lynn: Parents charged as Pennsylvania boy, 4, left paralyzed after he shot himself in the head

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GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA: A Pennsylvania couple is facing criminal charges after their four-year-old son discovered a loaded handgun under their bed and accidentally shot himself in the head, resulting in severe injuries, as reported by Daily Mail.

Four-year-old Ronnie Lynn's life was forever changed on July 6 when he discovered a loaded handgun under his parents' bed while looking for a paint set.

Ronnie Lynn shot himself in the head after finding a loaded gun

The young boy shot himself in the head, with the bullet ricocheting through his skull. The tragic incident left Ronnie paralyzed on his right side and relying on a feeding tube to eat.

Ronnie was home with both of his parents, Laura Steele and Michael Lynn, at the time of the shooting. The couple reported hearing a loud "pop" before finding their son lying next to the weapon and bleeding profusely from the head.

Steele admitted to police that she had forgotten the loaded gun was stashed under the bed.

EMS workers rushed the child to UPMC Children's Hospital in critical but stable condition. Doctors performed emergency surgery within an hour to try to save the boy's life.

The bullet had entered Ronnie's forehead and traveled "all the way back," according to his grandfather Wally Lynn. Miraculously, Ronnie survived the horrific gunshot wound.

Ronnie Lynn requires wheelchair for mobility and wears protective helmet

While Ronnie somehow managed to cling to life after the self-inflicted gunshot wound, his road to recovery remains long and arduous.

As of September, three months after the incident, Ronnie has had his feeding tube removed and regained some sensation and movement in his limbs, which were initially fully paralyzed on his right side from the gun blast.

However, he still requires a wheelchair for mobility and wears a protective helmet at all times.

According to Ronnie's grandfather, the spirited little boy enjoys wheelchair "field trips" around the hospital, waving at his favorite nurses.

The family hopes Ronnie can be home in time for the holidays, although he faces permanent brain damage and vision issues.

A GoFundMe campaign describes Ronnie as a “strong, independent little boy” who loved helping his father and grandfather with house and yard work.

Despite Ronnie's fighting spirit, doctors say he will likely suffer lifelong disabilities from his traumatic injury.

The online fundraiser seeks to raise money to help pay for Ronnie's immense medical bills as his mother simultaneously battles stage four breast cancer.

Ronnie Lynn's parents charged after failing to secure loaded weapon

While Ronnie continues to courageously recover from his paralysis and brain damage, his parents face criminal charges for keeping an unsecured loaded firearm within reach of their child.

Police have charged Laura Steele and Michael Lynn with endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person.

Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced the charges against Ronnie's parents on Monday, December 11, calling the shooting “tragic and unacceptable.” She emphasized that properly storing guns is the only sure way to prevent future incidents.

“There is one simple solution to prevent these types of incidents from happening, and it is to store your firearms in a safe and secure location,” Ziccarelli said.

Despite the legal consequences, Ronnie's parents have steadfastly stood by his hospital bedside since the accidental July shooting. However, Ziccarelli noted the boy would likely live with lifelong injuries that “should and could have been prevented” with responsible gun safety measures.