(FOND DU LAC) A two-year-old is dead after a gun went off inside a vehicle in a family’s driveway Friday morning in Fond du Lac County.
It happened just after 10:20 a.m. when someone walking nearby called 911 to report a child with a gunshot wound, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies and first responders arrived within minutes and tried to save the child, but the injuries were too severe. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say three young children had been sitting in a vehicle in the driveway while a parent briefly went back inside the home. During that time, a four-year-old found a loaded gun in the center console. The gun discharged, hitting the two-year-old.
No one else was hurt. Authorities say the shooting appears to be isolated, and they do not suspect foul play.
The sheriff’s office and medical examiner are still investigating what happened. Officials say the family is cooperating, and any possible charges will be decided after the investigation is complete.
A chaplain and crisis social worker also responded to help the family.
The sheriff is urging gun owners to keep firearms secured and out of children’s reach. Authorities are also asking for privacy for the family as they deal with the loss.
