WASHINGTON – A 4-year-old boy is dead following an accidental, self-inflicted fatal gunshot to the head.
Prince William County police say Kyrell Kyyon McNeill, of the 14800 block of Empire Street in Woodbridge, Va., was killed on Wednesday after accidentally shooting himself in the head when he was inside a car.
“The vehicle that the child was in at the time of the shooting is a family member’s vehicle,” says Officer Jonathan Perok with Prince William County Police.
They believe the boy found the hand gun inside the unlocked truck, which was parked in front of the child’s home.
Perok says family members were home at the time but none was in the truck with the boy.
A family member called police around 3:25 p.m. to report the shooting. The child was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Perok says the incident highlights the need for gun safety.
“It’s not illegal to have weapons but they need to be secure, especially if they’re going to be around children,” he says.
David, who declined to give his last name, used to live on Empire Street and his parents and young daughter still do.
“I think it’s a tragedy, especially…after hearing about Aurora, Colorado,” He says.
David says he thinks there should be more restrictions on guns.
“I don’t know what’s going on in the minds of people,” he adds.
The boy’s identity has not been released.
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