Key Takeaways
- A 2-year-old boy was fatally shot in Highland, San Bernardino County, on Thursday night.
- The toddler was taken to a hospital but died from his injuries.
- The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating, but details about the shooting remain unknown.
- This incident adds to a troubling pattern of child shootings in the U.S., including recent cases in Arkansas and Florida.
Introduction
A tragic shooting in Highland, California, has claimed the life of a toddler, leaving the community in shock. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident, which occurred Thursday night.
The Shooting Incident
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, the approximately 2-year-old boy was shot and later died at a hospital. The shooting occurred on Victoria Avenue, near Pacific Street. Authorities have not released details about what led up to the shooting, and the investigation is ongoing. The incident has been classified as a developing story, with updates expected as more information becomes available.
Authorities later revealed that the boy found a gun hidden between two couch cushions and shot himself. His mother, Jamaria Cobb, 20, and her boyfriend, Armand Bright, 52, were arrested on suspicion of child abuse causing great bodily injury or death. They remain in custody on $1.3 million bail. A second child who was inside the home was taken into the custody of Child and Family Services.
Newly released video captures the chaotic moments after the shooting. In the footage, a woman is heard screaming, “Somebody, help! Somebody, help!” as a man is seen performing CPR on the toddler. The video shows the boy lying on the floor while deputies and paramedics rush to the scene. The video was obtained by local news outlets and highlights the frantic efforts to save the child.
A vigil was held for the 2-year-old boy, where community members gathered to mourn and remember the victim. The vigil took place near the scene of the shooting, with attendees leaving flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals in memory of the toddler. The event underscored the community's grief and call for greater gun safety.
Deputies responded to a home in the 6900 block of Victoria Avenue just after 5 p.m. following reports of a child shot. Arriving deputies immediately performed CPR on the toddler, and emergency medical personnel transported him to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. The firearm was legally registered to Bright, who is not the victim’s biological father, according to sheriff’s department spokesperson Gloria Orejel. Cobb and Bright were booked into the Central Detention Center, where they each are being held on $1.35 million bail, according to the sheriff’s department. A second child, the victim’s 1-year-old sibling, inside the home was taken into protective custody by Child and Family Services. Cobb and Bright were arrested on suspicion of child abuse causing great bodily injury or death. Both were booked into the Central Detention Center, where they each are being held on $1.35 million bail, according to the sheriff’s department.
Investigators determined that the two-year-old boy found a gun hidden between two seat cushions on a couch and accidentally shot himself. The victim's mother, 20-year-old Jamaria Cobb, and her boyfriend, 52-year-old Armand Bright, were both inside the residence at the time of the shooting. Both were arrested and are currently being held at the Central Detention Center on $1.3 million bail. A second child who was inside the home during the incident was taken into custody by Child and Family Services. Officials have not yet released information regarding who legally owns the firearm or how it came to be left on the couch. It's unknown if there were any prior welfare checks or law enforcement responses to the home involving Child and Family Services. Cobb and Bright remain in custody pending their initial court appearances for the felony child abuse charges. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective N. Hospodar or Sergeant B. Sprague at the Specialized Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text "REPORT" to We-Tip at 844-909-3006, or submit a digital tip online at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department website.
Sheriff's department spokesperson Gloria Orejel emphasized the importance of gun safety, stating, "We encourage all gun owners to lock up their weapons. I would even say especially if you have children, to lock them away even out of sight, just because of the natural curiosity of children, this is where tragic things can happen."
According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, Cobb and Bright now face three felony charges each: two counts of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death, and one count of criminal storage of a firearm in the first degree. One of the child abuse charges carries a special allegation for willful harm or injury resulting in death. Both are scheduled to be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in a virtual hearing from the Rancho Cucamonga Superior Courthouse. District Attorney Jason Anderson stated, "The death of a child is a profound tragedy. Our office is committed to pursuing accountability in cases where unlawful and unsafe access to firearms results in devastating loss. We appreciate the thorough work of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department during this investigation."
On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Cobb and Bright were arraigned at the Rancho Cucamonga Superior Courthouse. They face three felony charges each: two counts of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death, and one count of criminal storage of a firearm in the first degree. One of the child abuse charges includes a special allegation for willful harm or injury resulting in death. The arraignment was held virtually.
Local California Context
Highland is a city in San Bernardino County, part of the Inland Empire region of Southern California. The area has seen sporadic violent crime, but shootings involving toddlers are rare and deeply concerning. The Sheriff's Department is urging anyone with information to come forward.
Background
This shooting is part of a broader, heartbreaking trend of children being killed by gunfire across the United States. In recent weeks, similar incidents have been reported in Arkansas, where a 7-year-old died in an accidental shooting, and in Florida, where a 4-year-old Georgia child on vacation shot and killed a 2-year-old boy on July 12 after finding an unsecured gun in a car. These cases highlight the ongoing issue of gun safety and access to firearms by children.
Accidental shootings among children are a major problem in the U.S. According to a database by Everytown for Gun Safety, there have been more than 140 such shootings so far in 2026, resulting in 49 deaths and 97 injuries as of July 9. Between 2015 and 2024, about 360 such incidents occurred per year. A 4-year-old Georgia child on vacation with his family in Florida shot and killed a 2-year-old boy on July 12 after finding an unsecured gun in a car. The day before that, a 1-year-old boy fatally shot himself after his father allegedly left a gun safe open in an Ohio home. There are about 6.7 million children in the United States living in homes with guns that are not secured, meaning stored unlocked and loaded, according to a 2025 report by the organization Brady. That number has climbed from about 4.6 million in 2015. In California, laws prohibit leaving a gun unsecured by a safety mechanism or a gun safe, and there are harsh punishments for leaving a gun where a child can access it if it results in injury or death.
Conclusion
The death of a toddler in Highland is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the need for community vigilance. As the investigation continues, residents are encouraged to provide any tips to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The family of the victim is in our thoughts during this difficult time.