3-year old Michigan boy finds loaded, unsecured gun and shoots self to death

Michael Richard Leland Easter, age 3

A 3-year old boy, Michael Richard Leland Easter, was at home when he found a loaded, unsecured handgun belonging to his parents and unintentionally shot himself to death with it.

The boy is the son of a Michigan sheriff's deputy.

From an article:

Deputy Mark Easter was heading into work on March 2 when his son, Michael Richard Leland Easter, mistakenly fired at himself inside the family's Jackson County home, Michigan State Police Jackson Post Cmdr. F/Lt. Michael Krumm told Michigan Live. 

Michael was reportedly in the care of his mother when the shooting occurred. The gun used was not Mark's on-duty weapon and it remains unclear how the toddler accessed the firearm. 

"Unless something drastic changes, this is being ruled an accidental shooting and a tragedy," Krumm said, adding that there is no evidence to suggest anything different.
Mark's cousin-in-law agreed the incident was an accident. 

"I know this wasn't intentional and nobody really knows what happened, so there's no point in pointing blame," Cammy Rose told WILX 10.

From another article:

An obituary for Michael Richard Leland Easter with the Desnoyer Funeral Home said: "Born on 11 November, 2009 to Mark and Melissa Easter left to be with God unexpectedly on 2 March, 2013. He was a joy, a rambunctious and loving son. He was loved by his family." 

Steve Rand, from Jackson County Sheriff's Department, said: "This just serves as a reminder that we need to be vigilant when it comes to keeping our children safe."

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