A Florida toddler was found dead with a gunshot wound to his face after he apparently shot himself with a 9mm pistol from his parents’ bedroom.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening while his parents were away grocery shopping and had left their 16-year-old daughter in charge. Their 8-year-old son was also home at the time of the toddler’s death.
The gun in question was reportedly kept in a nightstand, from where the child retrieved it. He reached into the nightstand, found the gun, and fatally shot himself in a tragic accident. An inoperable safe and a Glock pistol were also found in the home.
The boy’s sibling called 911 and he was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. However, the toddler was pronounced dead soon after.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood has called on gun owners to keep their weapons safely locked away in households where children are present, saying, “I cannot imagine there is anything in the law books that can punish that family more than what happened last night.”
Chitwood also stated that although no charges have yet been filed, his agency will investigate the incident and send the results to state prosecutors. The victim’s parents have not commented on the tragedy.