Schuylkill County Woman Shot in Hand by 2-Year-Old Son

A Schuylkill County woman is facing charges after police say her 2-year-old son shot her in the hand with a gun.

According to an affidavit filed by police in Saint Clair, the incident happened shortly after noon on Jan. 31 at Extreme Fitness on N. Front St. in the borough. Police were called there after receiving a dispatch that a toddler had shot his mother with a gun.

Police arrived at the scene and met Marissa Sheeler, 33, who was sitting in a chair holding napkins over her bleeding right hand. The woman had a gunshot wound near her ring finger. A gun – a purple and black Glock 43x 9mm – was sitting on a counter away from everyone in the room, police say.

Sheeler reportedly told police was inside her purse while she and a friend were hanging decorations inside the gym. Police say they searched the purse and found no holster inside, implying that it wasn’t secured in her handbag.

EMS personnel responding to the scene transported Sheeler by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.

Police then interviewed the other woman in the gym with Sheeler at the time of the incident. She explained that while they were hanging decorations, Sheeler’s son grabbed the gun from his mother’s purse and it went off. The woman said she helped wrap Sheeler’s hand, then grabbed the gun, and put it on the counter.

During their investigation, police say they reviewed surveillance video from inside the gym. In that video, police say Sheeler and her friend are seen at the counter with decorations. The toddler is walking around and then goes out of frame. A few minutes later, Sheeler’s friend is seen standing in front of her. Both women take a step and then Sheeler jumps as the gun goes off. Sheeler begins jumping around and holding her hand as her son walks back in frame.

The 2-year-old was handed over to his father, William Sheeler, who had arrived on scene a short time later. He reportedly told police, “The problem is this … a year ago, we tested to see if he could squeeze the trigger and he could not and we never tested to see if he could squeeze the trigger since.”

The father said he and Sheeler would test their son using an unloaded firearm to see if he was strong enough to pull the trigger.

Police have charged Sheeler with endangering the welfare of children, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanors for reckless endangerment and carrying a firearm without a concealed carry permit. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for April 1 before District Magistrate Judge David Plachko.

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