Teen Shoots Self In Leg After Finding Gun In Caretaker's Car In Polk

LAKELAND, FL — A 33-year-old South Carolina woman is facing multiple drug and gun charges after a 14-year-old boy got a hold of a gun in her car and shot himself in the leg.

On Aug. 14, at 8:46 p.m., Lakeland police officers responded to the Night Owl Urgent Care, 3240 S Florida Ave., Lakeland, after receiving a call about a boy who'd been shot.

When officers arrived, they learned the teen was in the care of Katlynn Briley Mahon of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, who was traveling from Orlando to Clearwater along Interstate 4, east of the Polk Parkway, when the teen found a loaded firearm in her car and accidentally shot himself in the shin, according to police.

Mahon drove the teen to Night Owl for treatment, and medical professionals contacted law enforcement. Because of the teen's age, Emergency Medical Services was requested to take the minor to Tampa General Hospital for treatment where the teen was listed in stable condition.

Detectives were also called to the scene, and learned there were three teens in the car (two age 14 and one 16-year-old) when the shooting occurred.

Lakeland police said they are not Mahon's children but were entrusted to her care.

Detectives also said they found two handguns in the passenger area, along with 32 grams of cocaine and 96 grams of marijuana.

Mahon was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of cannabis over 20 grams, culpable negligence inflicting actual harm and possession of drug paraphernalia.