A child shot and killed himself at his home in northeast Gainesville Wednesday night.
A 3-year-old boy died after shooting himself with a firearm he found in an unlocked case, according to a Gainesville Police Department press release.
GPD Officers and emergency medical personnel rushed to Lamplighter Mobile Home Community, located at 5200 NE 39th Ave. at 5:57 p.m. in response to the shooting. Victim advocates also responded to the scene to assist relatives with support and resources.
“The victim was playing with the firearm when it went off, striking him,” the release read. “Two other juveniles witnessed the incident.”
The victim was transported to a hospital and later died from the gunshot injury.
The police department declined to comment further about the incident, but said detectives and forensic scientists are actively investigating the matter.
Contact Lily Kino at lkino@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @lily_kino.
Lily is a third-year journalism major with a concentration in environmental science covering criminal justice for The Alligator. Last semester, she served as the Santa Fe reporter. When she's not writing, you can find Lily on a nature walk, eating Domino's Pizza or spending time with her friends.
