Tragic Incident in Indiana: 3-Year-Old Accidentally Kills 2-Year-Old Brother
- The horrifying ordeal happened on Friday night around 7.20pm at the family’s home in the 2100 block of George Street in Gary, Indiana
- The boy’s mother told authorities that a gun had been in her purse and that her three-year-old son accidentally shot his younger brother
- It was later concluded that the two-year-old boy’s death was ruled accidental by the Lake County Coroner’s office, WGN9 News reported
A three-year-old Indiana boy fatally shot his two-year-old brother after he found a loaded gun in his mother’s purse.
The tragic incident occurred on Friday evening at the family’s home in Gary, Indiana. Residents in the area reported hearing a loud bang. The mother rushed her injured son to Northlake Methodist Hospital for treatment.
Law enforcement officers were called to the hospital following reports of a toddler being shot. During their investigation, the mother, whose name was not disclosed, informed them that her older son had accidentally shot his younger sibling.
The mother revealed that a gun was in her purse when she left the room. It is unknown why the gun was in her possession, but both children were left unsupervised and had access to the loaded firearm.
The two-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries sustained in the incident.
The names of the victim and the three-year-old shooter were not disclosed because they are minors.
The Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force is investigating the weekend shooting.
Gary Police Commander Sam Roberts described how the case will proceed. ‘We do criminal investigations, and then we present that to the Lake County prosecutor, who makes a decision whether its negligence or an unfortunate accident.’
Following the investigation, the Lake County Coroner’s office ruled the two-year-old boy’s death as accidental, as reported by WGN9 News.
As of Monday afternoon, no charges have been announced in connection with the incident, and the investigation is ongoing, WTHR reported.
On Saturday, the Mayor of Gary Jerome A. Prince and Gary Police Chief Anthony Titus released a joint statement expressing their condolences to the family. They also mentioned that the case was under investigation.
‘Our hearts and prayers go out to the loved ones of the two-year-old child who was so tragically taken from our community,’ they said. ‘We understand nothing we say will ease the pain these tragedies cause in our community.
‘It’s a difficult reminder of the responsibility we all have as adults in properly securing any firearms and devices that may become weapons in the hands of innocent children,’ they shared.
They also urged adults who possess firearms to become ‘fully responsible.’
Gary police reminded gun owners to secure their weapons with a gun lock or in a gun box. They have announced that the department will be offering free gun locks to the community in an effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.
‘We will determine the best way to issue these free and potentially life-saving devices throughout our community,’ they added, as reported by ABC Chicago.
It’s worth noting that as of July 2022, the state of Indiana no longer requires a handgun permit to legally carry, conceal, or transport a firearm within the state.
According to the state laws, individuals who are 18 years old or older and not prohibited from possessing a firearm by state or federal laws may do so, with a few exceptions.
