Authorities in Kentucky said a 3-year-old boy died from his injuries after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in his home on March 17.
The toddler, identified as Sir Broyles in a Facebook post, died on the afternoon of March 18 from life-threatening injuries at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center’s pediatric intensive care unit.
“Sadly a crazy freak accident has taken our Sunshine away,” Broyles family wrote on GoFundMe.
“Thank EVERYONE who has taken the time out of their day to send a pray, a meal, and just pure love to our family.”
Broyles’ father posted a number of photos together with his son on Facebook after his death.
“This was one of the best days of my life I love you phat head… #ZionStrong,” he wrote on Facebook, adding a picture of him and his son.
Brenna Angel, a spokeswoman for the Lexington Police Department told the Herald-Leader the department has not concluded its investigation. But investigators have determined the incident was accidental and self-inflicted.
Authorities haven’t released other details surrounding the shooting.
Far fewer Americans fall victim to firearm accidents than some two decades ago, according to mortality data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Decreased popularity of hunting, improved trauma care, and gun safety education campaigns have likely helped decrease the fatalities.
The gun industry has claimed credit for the dropping accidental gun deaths, pointing to its safety education efforts going back to at least the 1920s (pdf), including distribution of tens of millions of safety booklets and placing public service announcements in the media.
“The situation would be considered by many observers as proof that private safety programs can be more effective than government regulation,” gun rights advocate and associate policy analyst think tank at the libertarian Cato Institute Dave Kopel said.
Epoch Times reporter Petr Svab contributed to this report.