MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Last Friday, a 9-year-old shot himself in the hand in Madison Heights after finding an unsecured gun. On Saturday, a teenager in Detroit shot himself in the leg for the exact same reason.

The police remind citizens that it is a legal requirement to secure their weapons.

Last Friday, around 1:20 p.m., a 9-year-old boy found his parents’ unsecured gun in Madison Heights near 13 Mile and John R Road and shot himself. He remains in the hospital as of Tuesday.

“Nine years old… should be going to school and here he is sitting in the hospital,” Said Madison Heights police Lt. David Koehler. “In this case, he was seriously injured. He could have killed someone. It could have been much worse.”

The child’s mother, Jessie Gean, who police said was last in possession of the weapon, and the stepfather, Jacob Zachary Gean, who owned it, were both arrested over the weekend. Michigan’s new safe storage laws which came into force in February.

The two were arraigned in 43rd District Court on August 25 and ordered held on $50,000 bail.

“Both the mother and the stepfather were charged with a crime carrying a prison sentence of ten years,” said Köhler.

Learn more about Michigan’s safe storage law from our previous report in the video below:

What gun owners should know about Michigan’s new gun storage law

Rome Baltran, who lives nearby, saw police removing several large weapons from the house after the incident.

“They should have to lock their weapons,” he said. “Very scary.”

Just one day later, a similar story occurred on Detroit’s west side. On Saturday around 3:30 p.m. near Schoolcraft Road and Greenfield Road, a teenager found an unsecured firearm and accidentally shot himself in the leg.

Angie Johnson, who lives nearby and has children of her own, knows that both incidents could have been much worse.

“Lock those weapons away. You have to lock them away.” she said. “Parents: We must do better. Guardians: We must do better.”

No one has been charged for the incident in Detroit. Police are still investigating.

Both children are expected to be well.

The Madison Heights and Detroit police departments are offering free gun locks to the public.