Police in Philadelphia have arrested a mother after one of her children allegedly got hold of her firearm and shot a 2-year-old brother. The shooting occurred at the kids’ home in Philly. The mom, 30-year-old Regine Prentice, took her son to the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Thankfully, he remains in stable condition, but his mother faces multiple charges.
The shooting occurred just after 8 p.m. on July 21, 2025, according to 6 ABC. Prentice apparently took her injured child to Temple University Hospital. Doctors later transferred him to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where he remains in stable condition. Initially, the mother reportedly told police she did not know what happened to her son but quickly changed her story.
The gun used in the shooting belonged to Prentice, who obtained it legally, according to 6 ABC. Detectives reportedly uncovered the weapon and a .380-caliber casing at the family’s home.
“We determined the shooting occurred inside the 2nd-floor bedroom where another child got hold of an unlocked gun. The bullet went off, striking the 2-year-old,” explained Captain James Kearney, who leads Philadelphia Police’s Shooting Investigative Group.
He added that even though the child should be fine, this story could have had a more heartbreaking ending.
“That’s the tragedy here. It could’ve all been prevented by storing the gun in a locked safe, something locked, or putting a lock on the actual gun,” he said, per the news outlet.
Prentice has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and other related charges, 6 ABC reported.
According to online records, Prentice owns and operates Gaining Hope Home Care. A post on the business’ Facebook page the day before the shooting shared a message of positivity.
“Whether your loved one is recovering from an illness, managing a disability, or simply aging in place, Gaining Hope Home Care is here to support their journey with professionalism, empathy, and trust. Let us help your family gain peace of mind and your loved ones gain hope every day,” the post reads.
