Family Mourns Four-Year-Old Who Accidentally Shot Himself While Mom Shopped

A Georgia family is in shock this week after 4-year-old Miyell Hernandez accidentally shot and killed himself in his mother's car while she went grocery shopping.

The boy was in the car with his 8-month-old sister and 13-year-old cousin on Sunday evening, according to Dekalb County Police. His mother had gone into Publix to buy a birthday cake for her father-in-law, Miyell's grandfather.

The 13-year-old ran into the grocery store for help and Miyell was rushed to a hospital, but later died from his injuries. Police said that no charges have been filed.

Miyell was the sixth child to die from gunfire in metro Atlanta this year and the second in five days, according to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. On January 29, another four-year-old fatally shot himself in the head while sitting in a car in Louisiana. Two adults, including his mother, were in the front of the car. Police determined that his father's firearm had been left unsecured in the back seat.

Authorities said the weapon that killed Miyell was also unsecured in the car. His maternal grandmother, April Griffin, told WXIA-TV that her daughter did not own a gun and the family did not know where it came from.

Griffin said she was extremely close to her grandson. "We talked all the time," she said. "I never felt that kind of love. I never knew nobody could love me like that."

According to Griffin, Miyell liked to line up his toys nearby when he took a bath or went to sleep, and he was looking forward to a trip to Disney World this summer.

The family has shared a Go Fund Me for Miyell's funeral expenses. "We would like to pay for our nephew's funeral, instead of cremation," the page said.

Dekalb Police Chief Mirtha Ramos said in a statement: "Our hearts and thoughts go out to the Hernandez family." She added that the department was "imploring gun owners to always keep their guns safe and secure."

On March 19, the Dekalb County Police Department plans to host a gun safety event with a focus on protecting children. They will be providing free gun locks to the community.

Ramos said she hoped the public would be willing to take small, simple steps that could save children's lives. "We don't need your identification, we don't need to know what kind of gun you own, we're not asking for any paperwork," she said.