SALISBURY — Deputies who were called to an area hospital regarding a four-year-old child who might have an injury from a gun slide determined the child actually had a gunshot to the hand, according to Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

According to reports, investigators were initially contacted by Atrium Health Cabarrus Hospital Tuesday afternoon reporting a child had been brought in with what appeared to be a laceration from a gun slide. But deputies recognized the injury as an actual gunshot wound, and began an investigation.

A gun slide injury, often referred to as a “slide bite,” can happen when someone gets their hand or thumb in the way of the slide on the back of a gun and when the gun is fired, the slide hits the hand and cuts the skin.

Investigators were able to determine that the child, at home with his mother, grabbed an unsecured gun and in doing so, caused the gun to fire, shooting a round against the child’s hand. The incident reportedly happened sometime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 4.

The child’s mother, 23-year-old Sara Elise Rennie, was subsequently charged with failure to store a firearm to protect minors and felony child neglect. She was initially held on a $30,000 bond.

The Rowan Department of Social Services has also opened an investigation.

The child suffered non-life threatening injures and was transferred to Levine Children’s Hospital for further treatment.

RCSO participates in Project Child Safe which provides gunlocks free of charge to citizens.  Locks can be acquired in person at the sheriff’s office on North Main Street in Salisbury, and also at the training center in Landis at 102 N Central Ave. Residents can also go to https://projectchildsafe.org for more safety tips on storing firearms with children in the home.