Warren Bennett Oser, known as Bennett, was 2 years old when he died on October 16, 2022, in Benson, North Carolina. Deputies found him with a gunshot wound near a vehicle on the property; he was taken to Johnston Medical Center Clayton, where he died. Initial reports described the shooting as an accident after Bennett climbed into his father’s pickup through an open door and handled a loaded handgun inside the truck.

Investigators found three firearms in the truck with no safety mechanisms engaged. Bennett accessed a 40-caliber Smith & Wesson while his father, Warren Tyler Oser, was nearby repairing a lawnmower. The sheriff’s office submitted its report to the district attorney, who authorized criminal charges against the father for failing to properly and safely store firearms to protect minors under North Carolina General Statute 14-315. The case raises questions about firearm storage and access in vehicles where children are present.

Did anyone in Benson know of unsecured firearms being kept in that pickup or have information about the circumstances that morning?