The incident happened back on Sept. 2, when 44-year-old Jennifer Marie Pu’u left her 8-year-son in her car while she went inside a Maverik gas station near Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. According to court documents, within minutes the boy reportedly found a loaded, unsecured handgun, which accidentally discharged and struck him in the head, ABC4 reported.

As the Daily Herald previously reported, the Lehi City Police Department said the boy was transported to the hospital in extreme critical condition and ultimately died the next morning from his injuries.  

Pu’u initially told police the handgun was under the driver’s seat, but investigators determined there was not enough room beneath the seat for the weapon to be stored there. Additionally, her ex-husband reportedly told authorities that the mother had been known to “leave guns lying around,” Fox 13 reported.

A behavioral therapist who worked with the child and was familiar with his actions said he functioned at the level of a 2-year-old and suffered from aggression and separation anxiety, charging documents noted, according to a KUTV report.

The therapist also noted in the documents that they had witnessed the boy play with toy guns with his siblings and didn’t seem to grasp how dangerous a real gun could be.

On at least two occasions while visiting the home to work with the boy, the therapist noticed unsecured handguns within easy reach of children, the documents alleged, KSL.com reported.