UPDATED: Police: Accidental self-inflicted gunshot claims life of Santaquin boy, 5
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- Neighbors hug after a 5-year-old boy accidentally shot himself with a handgun he found in his parents’ bedroom in Santaquin on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.
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- Law enforcement responders stand near the home where a 5-year-old boy accidentally shot himself with a handgun he found in his parents’ bedroom in Santaquin on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.
A 5-year-old Santaquin boy died Thursday after he accidentally shot himself, according to police.
Lt. Mike Wall of Santaquin Police Department said officers were dispatched to a home in the 700 block of Canyon Road just before 2:30 Thursday afternoon on reports of a child who suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
The boy was in a bedroom in the back of the home, somehow got a hold of a 9 mm handgun and fired a shot. Authorities said the boy’s parents were in another room inside the home when the gun was discharged and quickly rushed to their child.
The boy’s father was performing life-saving measures upon the arrival of police and first responders. Santaquin police and EMS took over the efforts, but the 5-year-old died at the scene, according to Wall.
An investigation is underway to learn how the boy got ahold of the gun. “It’s just an unfortunate accident that took place,” Wall told the Daily Herald.
Wall said authorities do not suspect foul play, and charges against the parents are not currently being pursued. He declined to say if or how the weapon was secured. The investigation, which will include a report by the medical examiner, could take several months.
Police have not released the names of anyone involved.
A statement released Friday and attributed to the “Wilson and Hunsaker families” described the shooting as “an unimaginable tragedy” that serves as a reminder to take precautions to ensure the safety of children.
“This heartbreaking incident has taught us difficult lessons, and we deeply regret that it unfolded this way. Our hearts are shattered, and we hope that our family’s loss serves as a poignant reminder of how quickly life can change,” the statement read.
Officials also said the incident illustrates how fast a tragedy can happen, and stressed that residents should make sure firearms are safely secured, completely out of reach of children, to prevent accidents.
“The family obviously is devastated. … Obviously it’s a shock to the community. It’s always a good reminder of how quick things can happen and how fast accidents can take place,” Wall said.
The tight-knit town of about 14,000 people is one of the best anyone could ask for when it comes to support, Wall said.
Utah does not have any laws to penalize someone for failing to secure an unattended firearm and leaving it accessible to an unsupervised minor, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The state also does not require unattended firearms to be stored in a certain way or require a locking device to be sold with a firearm.
A mother in Kansas was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday after leaving a loaded 9 mm handgun on a couch before her 2-year-old son fatally shot his 4-year-old sister.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
