A three-year-old boy has died after accidentally shooting himself with his father’s handgun while the family was at a Burger King drive-through in Bartow, Florida.
The child was in the back seat of the vehicle on Thursday evening when he picked up the Glock, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. He was four days away from his fourth birthday.
Investigators said the boy’s father had been trying to pay for dinner when his credit card was declined. As he searched for another way to complete the transaction, he removed the gun from his waistband because it was uncomfortable and placed it on the seat.
The child then reached for the weapon and pulled the trigger. His father told investigators that he heard a loud bang before running around the vehicle, while a bystander called emergency services.
First responders took the boy to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was pronounced dead at about 7.30pm.
The family had moved from Connecticut to Florida about four months ago, Sheriff Judd said. Both parents are managers at Lowe’s, he added.
Investigation into fatal Bartow shooting
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the Bartow Police Department with the investigation. No charges have been filed.
Judd said Florida law contains a provision relating to culpable negligence when a child gains access to a firearm and is injured or killed. Investigators must send their findings to the State Attorney’s Office, and no legal action can be taken for at least seven days, he said.
However, the sheriff indicated that prosecutors were unlikely to be asked to pursue criminal charges based on the initial evidence, unless the investigation reveals further information.
“If you pray, pray for this family,” Judd said, describing the incident as a terrible tragedy and saying officers were struggling during a debriefing.
Bartow deputy chief Kyle Dowdy said the community was grieving with the family after the death of a child who was about to turn four.
