Investigators said the 2-year-old found a loaded gun hidden between cushions while two adults were inside the home.
HIGHLAND, Calif. — A mother and her boyfriend were arrested after her 2-year-old son found a loaded gun hidden inside a couch and fatally shot himself at a Highland home, San Bernardino County authorities said.
Deputies were called to the 6900 block of Victoria Avenue at about 5:27 p.m. Thursday, July 16, after receiving a report that a young child had been shot. Deputies began CPR before emergency medical workers took the boy to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. Authorities did not publicly identify the child.
Investigators said the boy gained access to the firearm after finding it between two seat cushions. The child’s mother, 20-year-old Jamaria Cobb, and her boyfriend, 52-year-old Armand Bright, were inside the residence when the shooting occurred, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Cobb and Bright were arrested on suspicion of child abuse causing great bodily injury or death. The allegation is not a conviction, and prosecutors had not announced formal charges as of Saturday. Both remained in custody at the San Bernardino County Central Detention Center, with bail listed at about $1.35 million each.
Authorities said the firearm was legally registered to Bright. Investigators have not publicly explained why the loaded gun was placed inside the couch or how long it had been there. The Sheriff’s Department also has not said whether any other firearms were recovered from the home.
A second child, the victim’s 1-year-old brother, was removed from the residence and placed in the care of child and family services. Officials did not release additional information about the younger child because of privacy protections involving minors.
Neighbor Amber Butler, who has two young children, described the boy’s death as tragic and preventable. She said the case showed the consequences that can follow when firearms are not fully secured around children.
“It’s very tragic,” Butler told KTLA. “I just hope that people see the consequences of not completely following all safety precautions when it comes to having firearms.”
Gloria Orejel, a Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, said the loss of a child represents a consequence far beyond an arrest. “If you do have guns in the home, you need to lock them up because going to jail is one thing, but losing your child is different,” Orejel said.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said it was aware of the investigation but had not yet received the case for a filing decision. Prosecutors said they would review the evidence after investigators submit it and determine whether criminal charges are supported.
Author note: Last updated July 18, 2026.