9 year old boy Ohio shot by his cousin

Matthew Schreckengaust, age 9

It's happened again. A young child has been shot by his 14 year old cousin in Ohio. From an article:

A 9-year-old boy is dead in Ohio after he was accidentally shot Friday afternoon while handling a gun with his 14-year-old cousin, according to local media reports.

Matthew Schreckengaust was shot while "examining a gun" with his 14-year-old cousin in Minerva, Ohio, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Authorities told Fox8 Cleveland that the boys were "looking at and handling a gun that they believed was unloaded" when the weapon was discharged and hit Schreckengaust. He later died from the gunshot wounds at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio. 

Stark County Sheriff George T. Maier said the gun was owned by the boys' uncle.

“Two young boys inquisitive about a firearm and, unfortunately, this resulted in a horrific tragedy for the family and for our community,” Maier said, according to the Beacon Journal.

(Matthew's obituary)

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

The accidental shooting happened on ASK day. Please look at the website of the Center to Prevent Youth Violence for more information about asking if there is a gun where your children play. Every year on the first day of summer, the campaign encourages parents to ask the hard question about guns in homes. Too many children die every day from accidental shootings ( and other shootings as well). As the CPYV says, "Asking Saves Kids."