Mother arrested after toddler finds gun in sofa and dies, deputies say

A 2-year-old boy in Southern California died after he found a gun tucked between couch cushions and shot himself, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The shooting happened Thursday at a home in Highland, deputies said. When deputies arrived, they tried life-saving measures before the child was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the department.

The boy’s name has not been released.

Deputies said the child’s mother, 20-year-old Jamaria Cobb, was inside the home at the time. Her boyfriend, 52-year-old Armand Bright, was also there, according to the sheriff’s department.

Cobb and Bright were arrested on felony child abuse charges, the department said. The charges are allegations, and no response from Cobb or Bright has been reported.

Both were being held on $1.35 million bail, according to law enforcement.

Deputies said another child was also in the home. That child was taken by Child and Family Services, according to the sheriff’s department.

Authorities have not released further details about how the gun got into the sofa or who owned it. The department also has not reported the age or condition of the other child.

Highland sits just east of San Bernardino and has a population of about 57,000 people.

The sheriff’s department has described the case as a fatal shooting involving a child who accessed a gun inside the residence. The arrests of Cobb and Bright place the case in the criminal courts, where prosecutors would have to prove any charges brought against them.

No additional information about court dates, attorney representation or possible further charges has been reported.

This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.