GARY, IN – A toddler has tragically lost his life after being accidentally shot by his three-year-old brother, Gary Indiana police have confirmed. The incident occurred on Friday night in a residence in Gary. Responding to a call at a local hospital, officers were informed by the boys’ mother that the shooting occurred after her older son found a gun in her unattended purse.
The two-year-old was later confirmed to have succumbed to the gunshot injury. Though details surrounding the shooting are still emerging, the case is currently under investigation by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force.
Gary Police Commander Sam Roberts explained that the role of the authorities is to conduct crime investigations, but the final determination on whether it was an unfortunate accident or negligence comes from the Lake County prosecutor.
Gary Mayor Jerome A. Prince and Police Chief Anthony Titus have since issued a joint statement, saying their thoughts and prayers are with the family of the two-year-old child taken too soon. The community leaders also took the opportunity to reiterate the importance of adults’ responsibility to properly secure firearms and other potentially harmful devices, thus keeping innocent children safe. They particularly emphasized the necessity of using gun boxes or gun locks to ensure the security of firearms, underscoring their commitment to protect their community from similar accidents.