Boy, 3, dies at his birthday celebration after accidentally shooting himself with family member's gun

Authored by abcnews.go.com and submitted by uscmacleod

Boy, 3, dies at his birthday celebration after accidentally shooting himself with family member's gun Family members at the party were playing cards when they heard the gunshot.

A 3-year-old boy has died at his birthday celebration after finding a family member’s gun and accidentally shooting himself in the chest.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:15 p.m. at a family residence in Porter, Texas, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, when authorities were called to the home and found a 3-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to his chest.

“Family and friends had gathered earlier to celebrate the birthday of the three-year-old, and while playing cards, heard a gunshot,” the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement released to social media. “The child was located with a gunshot wound to the chest.”

According to authorities, it was learned during the investigation that the child had allegedly found the pistol after it fell out of a family member's pocket.

The unnamed 3-year-old boy was subsequently rushed to a nearby fire station where he succumbed to his injuries.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this tragic accident,” said the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

The circumstances surrounding how the family member lost their firearm at the party was not disclosed and authorities did not say whether the gun owner acted in an improper or irresponsible manner when it came to safely securing the firearm.

Powerism on October 25th, 2020 at 23:37 UTC »

If you really want to feel depressed, the reason so many toddlers and very young children shoot themselves is because they don’t have the strength in their index finger to pull the trigger, so they turn the gun around and use their thumbs.

sarcastroll on October 25th, 2020 at 19:07 UTC »

authorities did not say whether the gun owner acted in an improper or irresponsible manner when it came to safely securing the firearm.

By definition the fact that a 3 year old got it means the owner was irresponsible. Edit: Clarity

uscmacleod on October 25th, 2020 at 15:55 UTC »

”According to authorities, it was learned during the investigation that the child had allegedly found the pistol after it fell out of a family member's pocket...

”The circumstances surrounding how the family member lost their firearm at the party was not disclosed and authorities did not say whether the gun owner acted in an improper or irresponsible manner when it came to safely securing the firearm.”