A Utah family is mourning the loss of a 5-year-old boy after he accidentally shot himself with a handgun he found at home.
On Thursday, Aug. 22, the boy found a 9 mm handgun in his parents’ bedroom before firing a single shot to the head, Santaquin Police Department lieutenant Mike Wall confirmed, per the Associated Press.
Police, who have not identified the boy, stated he died at the scene despite his father’s efforts to save him after hearing the gunshot and rushing to his aide.
Per the AP, the boy’s parents and possibly one of his siblings were home at the time of the tragedy.
Wall and the Santaquin Police Department didn’t immediately respond when contacted.
The boy’s family released a statement, per KUTV, where they described the incident as “an unimaginable tragedy.”
“Losing a cherished member who will be deeply missed. However, through our faith in Jesus Christ, we will get through this trial, as we feel his love so abundantly,” they said.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who responded and to the community for their overwhelming support and compassion,” the family continued. “This heartbreaking incident has taught us difficult lessons, and we deeply regret that it unfolded this way.”
“Our hearts are shattered, and we hope that our family’s loss serves as a poignant reminder of how quickly life can change,” the family added.
They continued, “We hope this tragedy serves as a reminder for others to take every precaution to ensure the safety of their children. As we come together to grieve, we kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time as we mourn the loss of our beloved little boy.”
Per the AP, authorities don’t suspect foul play and the parents aren’t currently facing charges following the incident. Wall also declined to comment on how the weapon was stored while the investigation is ongoing.
Utah isn’t listed under the states with child access prevention (CAP) and safe storage laws, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
“Utah’s law generally does not make adults liable for making firearms accessible to minors but for failing to remove firearms from minors who have violated minimum age laws,” a message on the site stated, adding that a minor is defined as “a person under the age of 21 for handguns” in the U.S. state.
The AP added that the state doesn’t “require unattended firearms to be stored in a certain way or require a locking device to be sold with a firearm.”
