3-year old California boy, son of policeman, kills self with gun at home

A 3-year old boy, the son of a San Jose policeman, was at his home in Gilroy, California, with three other kids.  That's when the boy either got hold of a loaded, unsecured gun, or one of the other children did.  The gun was discharged, striking and killing the boy.

From an article:

In what police describe as a tragic accident, the 3-year-old son of a San Jose, Calif., police officer was shot and killed Wednesday evening at his home in Gilroy. The boy's death from his wounds was confirmed late Thursday.

The Gilroy Dispatch newspaper reported that three other children were inside the home at the time of the incident, indicating this might have happened during a play date.

Police won't say who pulled the trigger of the handgun, but reports say the boy either shot himself or another child accidentally fired the gun. 

"Unfortunately, emergency personnel were unable to save the boy and he was pronounced deceased while en route to a local hospital," Gilroy Sgt. Chad Gallacinao said in a statement.

 

He added that the investigation will focus on how the gun was stored inside the house and why a child was able to get their hands on it.

 

It is not known if the gun was the father's police-issued firearm.

 

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.