Parents of child who shot himself charged with unlawful neglect

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) - The parents of a minor who accidentally shot himself in a Myrtle Beach hotel room appeared in court Sunday afternoon.

Officials say the minor was a4-year-old who was shot in the head Saturday.

Myrtle Beach Police and Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue crews responded to the call at 107 S. Ocean Blvd., which is the Oceans One Resort in Myrtle Beach, around 7 p.m.

According to Myrtle Beach police, the child was playing unattended when he got hold of the gun and accidentally shot himself. The gun was in his mother's purse, according to police.

The child was rushed to Grand Strand Medical Center.

The child's parents, Heather Lyn Odom and Jeremy Jermaine Barrett, have been charged with unlawful neglect of a child.

Both appeared in court Sunday afternoon for a bond hearing, where Judge Clifford L. Welsh read them their rights and set the conditions upon their release from custody.

"I'm gonna let you out on your own recognizance," said Welsh.

The couple is due back in court in September.

According to detectives involved in the case, the 4-year-old suffered swelling in his brain after he shot himself in the head and remains in critical condition.

ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmp5mknryvedaoqaWcX6Wus7HNrapmp5ZisKm1y51ksKCfYsCpu9Nmn6Klo5q5p3nCoZirn5WZeri106FkrqaclsSnwctmpZ6fnJqwtQ%3D%3D