North Charleston police arrested a mother Tuesday morning after her child was hospitalized with a gunshot wound in an incident that occurred at the family’s Corona Street home.

Officers responded to the residence around 11:30 p.m. Monday after learning a juvenile was being treated at a local hospital for a gunshot injury, according to North Charleston Police Department records.

Police recovered a handgun at the scene and arrested the child’s mother early Tuesday. The department has not released the woman’s name or the specific charges she faces.

The child’s condition and age were not disclosed by authorities. Police said the investigation remains active.

The Corona Street incident marks another case involving unsecured firearms and children in the Charleston area, where local officials have increasingly focused on gun safety measures in recent months. The neighborhood sits in North Charleston’s District 7, represented by Councilman Jerome Heyward.

North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess has made child safety a priority since taking the helm in 2019, launching community programs aimed at preventing accidental shootings. The department distributed free gun locks at community events last year.

“When children are involved, these cases take on additional urgency,” said department spokesperson Karley Ash. “Our detectives work quickly to determine exactly what happened and ensure appropriate charges are filed.”

The shooting comes as North Charleston grapples with a 15% increase in gun violence incidents compared to last year, according to police statistics through November. City Council approved $2.3 million in additional police funding in September to address the rise.

Corona Street runs through a residential area near the Ashley River, roughly two miles from North Charleston City Hall. The block where the incident occurred includes single-family homes and duplexes, many built in the 1960s.

South Carolina law requires adults to prevent children under 18 from accessing firearms if the adult knows or reasonably should know the child could gain access. Violations can result in misdemeanor charges carrying up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine.

The statute, enacted in 1994, has been criticized by child safety advocates as too weak. Similar laws in neighboring states carry felony penalties and longer prison sentences.

“South Carolina’s gun storage requirements are among the weakest in the Southeast,” said Jennifer Walsh, a spokeswoman for the Charleston chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Children pay the price for our legislature’s inaction.”

State legislators have filed bills in recent sessions to strengthen child access prevention laws, but none have advanced out of committee. Republican leaders cite Second Amendment concerns and enforcement challenges.

The General Assembly returns to Columbia in January for its 2024 legislative session, where gun safety measures are expected to face continued resistance despite growing calls for stronger local government oversight of firearms issues.

North Charleston has seen three incidents this year involving children and firearms, including a September case where a 4-year-old found an unsecured weapon and accidentally shot himself in the leg. That child survived after emergency surgery.

Police Captain Mike Julazadeh, who oversees the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, said detectives examine whether adults properly secured weapons in every case involving children and guns.

“We look at the totality of circumstances,” Julazadeh said. “Did the adult take reasonable steps to prevent access? Was the weapon loaded? Where was it stored? These factors determine what charges, if any, are appropriate.”

The Monday night incident required coordination between North Charleston police and hospital staff, who are required by law to report gunshot wounds to authorities within 24 hours.

Medical University of South Carolina, Roper Hospital and other area facilities have protocols for handling pediatric gunshot cases, including immediate notification of police and social services when children are involved.

Child Protective Services automatically investigates when minors suffer gunshot wounds at home, regardless of whether parents face criminal charges. The agency can remove children from homes deemed unsafe.

North Charleston City Council addressed gun violence at its December meeting, with several members calling for federal action on background checks and assault weapon restrictions. The council has no authority to enact gun control measures under state law.

Mayor Keith Summey, a Republican who has served since 1994, has focused on enforcement rather than new regulations. His administration has added 30 officers since 2020 and expanded community policing programs.

The investigation into Monday’s shooting continues. Police said additional charges could be filed pending forensic analysis and witness interviews.

Detectives ask anyone with information about the incident to call North Charleston Police at 843-740-2800 or Crime Stoppers at 843-554-1111. Anonymous tips can be submitted online through the department’s website.

The case will be prosecuted by the Charleston County Solicitor’s Office, which handles felony cases in North Charleston. Misdemeanor charges would be tried in North Charleston Municipal Court.

Police expect to release additional details about the charges and circumstances once the investigation is complete, likely within the next week.