Boy, 4, Accidentally Shoots Himself in Alabama Home Surrounded by Snakes and a Crocodile, Say Police

A 4-year-old Alabama boy is recovering after accidentally shooting himself in the arm and leg — but what police found inside his home has made national headlines.

According to investigators in Blount County, the boy’s injuries were just the beginning of a much bigger and disturbing story.

Mom Scolds Injured Child in Hospital, Raising Red Flags

On April 4, the young boy was rushed to a local hospital by his parents, Cassandra Lynn Lutz, 39, and Alexander Andrew Corrie, 27. He had suffered gunshot wounds to both his arm and leg. But instead of comforting her injured son, medical staff reported hearing the mother scold the boy, reportedly telling him, “That’s what you get for playing with guns.”

The comment, along with the fact that no one had called 911 about the incident, alarmed hospital staff, who quickly notified authorities. Doctors were shocked not only by the child’s injuries but by what they described as a “disturbing lack of concern” from the parents.

Search Warrant Reveals a Shocking Home Environment

When deputies obtained a search warrant for the family’s home in the Sugarland Lake community, they weren’t prepared for what they found.

Inside the house was a collection of live and dead animals: 24 snakes, including large constrictors; six dead snakes covered in maggots; a juvenile crocodile or caiman found in a bathtub; and boxes of live mice and rats. Many of the animals were not secured properly — some were kept in containers without lids, making them easily accessible to the children in the house.

The home, according to Sheriff Mark Moon, had no running water, non-working toilets, and “was simply unfit for anyone to live in — let alone young children.”

Guns, Drugs, and a Second Child in the Home

On top of the wildlife, investigators also found multiple guns within reach of the children, drug paraphernalia, and what appeared to be marijuana. A second child, even younger than the injured boy, was also living in the home and was immediately removed by Alabama’s Department of Human Resources and placed in protective custody.

“It was one of the most dangerous and filthy environments I’ve seen a child live in,” said Sheriff Moon. “Between the guns, the drugs, and the reptiles, this wasn’t just neglect — it was a disaster waiting to happen.”

Parents Now Behind Bars

Cassandra Lutz and Alexander Corrie were arrested and now face a laundry list of charges, including:

• Reckless assault

• Chemical endangerment of a child

• Ten counts of animal cruelty

• Six counts of failure to properly dispose of dead animals

They are currently being held in the Blount County Jail, and authorities say more charges may be filed, especially regarding the possession of unlicensed exotic animals.

The 4-year-old boy has since undergone surgery and is expected to recover. Officials say his physical wounds are healing, but the emotional scars from growing up in such an environment could last a lifetime.

“A Wake-Up Call for the Community”

Neighbors told local reporters they had no idea what was going on inside the home. “We’d see the kids sometimes, but we had no clue they were living like that,” one neighbor shared. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Sheriff Moon said this case should serve as a wake-up call for communities to speak up if they suspect children may be living in unsafe conditions.

“You never want to think something like this could happen in your neighborhood, but sadly it can,” Moon added. “We’re just grateful this child survived — and that both kids are now out of that situation.”

As the investigation continues, child welfare workers, police, and animal control are coordinating to ensure nothing like this happens again — and that no more children are put at risk by those meant to protect them.