Area residents call for more gun safety measures

NORWALK — Area residents expressed shock that a 2-year-old had access to a gun and was able to accidentally shoot his mother. A 31-year-old pregnant woman, Laura Ilg, and her unborn son died on June 16 after she was allegedly shot by her 2-year-old son in Norwalk. "My question is… how does a 2-yr old "allegedly" pick up a 9mm and manage to squeeze the trigger," Alexis Miller wrote on Norwalk Police Department's Facebook page. "It's not heavy but it's not light and the trigger action isn't light either normally. Depends on what type of 9mm." Another resident asked others to take this shooting as a learning opportunity. "Absolutely horrific," posted Brittany Weeks, who added, "my heart breaks for this family. Please folks, take this as a learning opportunity and lock up your guns so this type of tragedy never happens again. Just heartbreaking…" Another commented on the NPD Facebook page that the shooting could have been prevented. "This is so sad. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD KEEP UR FIREARMS LOCKED UP," said Kristi Leigh. "(T)here are so many ways this could have been prevented. Now this little boy has to grow up without his mother and baby sibling! This is heartbreaking. Please take all (precautions) when owning a fire arm and Please lock them up around children!" And another urged parents to be more responsible. "What kind of parent leaves a loaded gun out for a child to get a hold such a unnecessary tragedy, please parents be responsible !!!!!!!!!" said Marilyn Smith. The 9-1-1 call came in about 1:30 p.m. Friday from Ilg, who said she had been shot in her home at 59 Woodlawn Avenue. Norwalk police Chief Dave Smith said the pregnant woman was shot in the back with a Sig Sauer 9mm gun. Meanwhile, Smith said in an interview on Monday that the incident was not an easy one for police to respond to. "I really have no words for it," Smith said. "It's a tragedy and I think we're all just reeling from it." He also echoed some of the comments about gun safety. "Of course this could happen anywhere and obviously it would be our recommendation that guns are kept under lock and key and not accessible by young ones," Smith said. Smith said the incident is under investigation, but he doesn't think any charges will be issued.