A Florida mother’s reckless firearm storage while intoxicated led to both her 4-year-old twin boys being shot after they discovered her loaded handgun hidden under a couch cushion.
Story Highlights
- Twin 4-year-old boys shot themselves with their mother’s improperly stored handgun in an Orlando home.
- Mother Keishara Goodrum placed a loaded gun under a couch cushion while drinking and forgot to secure it.
- Father Maurice Bright Jr. faces additional felony firearm possession charges due to his criminal history.
- Both children are hospitalized in critical but stable condition with gunshot wounds.
Parental Negligence Leads to Tragic Shooting
Keishara Goodrum, 39, and Maurice Wayne Bright Jr., 40, were arrested after their twin sons accessed an unsecured handgun on Saturday morning, November 2, 2025.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported both children remain hospitalized in critical but stable condition at an Orlando medical facility. Goodrum faces two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm, while Bright confronts charges for illegal firearm possession as a convicted felon.
PARENTS CHARGED: A Florida couple was arrested after their 4-year-old twin boys shot themselves in their home. The children were hospitalized for their injuries. pic.twitter.com/EYJ2vrFrCQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 11, 2025
Alcohol and Poor Judgment Create Deadly Combination
According to arrest affidavits, Goodrum admitted to drinking alcohol the night before the incident and placing her loaded handgun under living room couch cushions because her clothing lacked a proper waistband.
She told detectives she completely forgot to remove the weapon from its dangerous location. This sequence reveals how alcohol impairment led to catastrophic decision-making that endangered innocent children in their own home.
Mother Heard Gunshot While Cooking Breakfast
Goodrum was preparing breakfast in the kitchen when she heard a loud “pop” from the living room but initially continued cooking. Only after discovering one twin with an arm wound did she realize the severity of the situation.
Bright, who was in the backyard during the incident, rushed inside upon hearing the commotion. The parents drove both children to the hospital, discovering during transport that the second twin had also sustained gunshot injuries.
Multiple Firearms Found During Investigation
Deputies launched their investigation after receiving reports of two young gunshot victims at Advent Health East.
A subsequent search of the family residence uncovered three total firearms, raising questions about overall weapon security practices in the household. Bright’s criminal history prohibits him from legal firearm possession, adding federal implications to an already serious case.
This incident underscores why responsible gun owners emphasize proper storage, training, and sobriety when handling firearms—principles that protect families while preserving constitutional rights.
