2-Year-Old Boy Dead After Allegedly Shooting Himself in Head; Family Member in Custody

A 2-year-old boy was pronounced dead after allegedly shooting himself in the head, and police have taken one of the boy's family members into custody.

According to the Waco Police Department in Texas, the incident occurred on Wednesday at approximately 6 p.m. local time. Officers with the Waco Police Department were dispatched to the University Club Apartments located at 1725 North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard following reports of a "possible shooting."

When Waco Police officers arrived to the scene, they discovered that a 2-year-old boy had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. According to police, the 2-year-old boy was "immediately" taken to the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center–Hillcrest Hospital by officials with American Medical Response. The boy later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, according to police.

Due to his age, police did not release the name of the boy.

While conducting a further investigation of the incident, Waco Police officers discovered that the 2-year-old boy had found the firearm in a "backpack belonging to an adult family member," police said.

According to police, at this time during the investigation, they believe that the 2-year-old boy "may have accidentally shot himself with the firearm after finding it."

Police said that after the 2-year-old boy allegedly shot himself, the family member that owned the firearm fled the scene with the gun in his possession.

The Waco Police Department said that the family member eventually returned to the scene and was taken into custody. Police did not provide any further information on the family member but confirmed that he was a 21-year-old.

According to police, after the 21-year-old family member was charged with tampering with physical evidence after he was taken into custody.

"This is an ongoing investigation, and there is currently no other information available," the Waco Police Department said.

In a statement sent to Newsweek, a spokesperson for the Waco Police Department said, "This was a tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family and friends affected. To prevent this from happening to another family, we at the Waco Police Department would like to remind everyone about the importance of gun safety. We are advocates for responsible gun ownership and gun safety."

The statement continued, "Education on properly handling, storing, and securing weapons are essential for keeping yourself and your loved ones safe. Gun safety locks are a simple tool that is easy to use to keep weapons from accidental discharges. Many law enforcement agencies participate in programs where gun safety locks are distributed at no cost. Organizations like Project Child Safe are great recourses for gun safety and handling education."

A somewhat similar incident occurred in July when a 4-year-old boy in North Carolina died after accidentally shooting himself. In a press release, the High Point Police Department said that when detectives assessed the scene and conducted interviews of those involved, they discovered that several adults, including the homeowner, were "at the residence having dinner, playing cards, drinking alcohol, and smoking marijuana when the child was left unattended in the living room where he located a firearm under a couch cushion and shot himself."

Updated 09/23/2021, 3:57 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include a statement from the Waco Police Department.