A 3-year-old boy is dead after what appears to be an accidental shooting with an unsecured gun in Pontiac.
During a press conference held late Tuesday, Sept. 15, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard expressed his anger over the death of a child he said was avoidable.
"We have a 3-year-old child deceased from a gunshot wound, from a weapon in the home," Bouchard said, noting that he could not give much information as the case is being investigated.
The shooting happened at around 5:05 p.m., Sept. 15, in the 10th block of Maynard, a townhouse complex near University Drive and Woodward Avenue. Bouchard said the 3-year-old's mother and grandmother were in the home at the time, as well as three other children, aged 8, 7 and 8 months old.
"The weapon
was accessible to someone who shouldn't have touched it," Bouchard said. "Someone will be held accountable for this completely unnecessary tragedy. We have great rights in this country, but also great responsibilities. ... If you are an adult and own a weapon and you have kids in the house, my God, use common sense."
Police have recovered a Taurus handgun owned by the child's father, according to preliminary investigation.
Bouchard pointed out that clearly "there wasn't responsible behavior with that weapon if some of these kids could get to it."
He added that free gun locks are available at the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
While there is still "much work to be done," Bouchard promised there will be accountability.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Accidental shooting of toddler in Pontiac 'left a gift from God dead'
