BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — Multiple emergency crews responded to a Mercer Mall store after an 8 year-old boy became locked in a gun safe on display.
Mercer County dispatchers received the call to the Rural King store at around 3 Sunday afternoon. The first emergency crew arrived on scene approximately 10 minutes after the initial call.
Green Valley-Glenwood Volunteer Fire Captain David Thompson told MetroNews affiliate WJLS despite the scary situation, emergency responders made sure the boy was not in danger.
“The rescue squad was administering oxygen through a little porthole on the side of the safe itself, so there was no life-safety danger to the child. Then we just drilled the mechanism out and opened the door on him.”
Mountain State Locksmith of Bluefield was called to help emergency responders open the safe about 30 minutes after the boy initially became trapped. Crews eventually had to use the “jaws of life” to pry the door all the way open. Thompson believes the boy did not lock himself in but also said no foul play is suspected.
“The way that safe was made it’s the type you have to shut and then spin the main handle to set all of the safety pins. On speculation, it looked like two kids were playing and he grabbed the short end of the stick.”
In addition to Green Valley-Glenwood Vounteer Fire, crews assisted from Bluefield and Princeton Rescue Squads. West Virginia State Police also responded to the scene.