A 3-year-old child is dead after his father’s gun went off in a Central Florida Burger King parking lot.
Read more ‘Polar Express’ shines in 1,000 tons of ice for Gaylord Palms’ holiday extravaganza
On Thursday night, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held a press conference to discuss the shooting that occurred at the restaurant in Bartow.
At around 6:23 p.m., the victim and his father were in the drive-through to order dinner. The father tried to pay for the meal, but his card didn’t work.
The family recently moved from Connecticut to Florida and had been having issues with payment, according to Sheriff Judd. When the father was on the phone trying to sort out the issues he bent over, removed a gun from his hip and placed it somewhere in the car.
At the time, his 3-year-old son was in the backseat and unrestrained. While the father was on the phone, he heard a loud pop, according to Sheriff Judd. Deputies believe the son grabbed the gun and accidentally pulled the trigger.
Read more Maxwell: Pop quiz on Orlando Magic, creepy decorations, even creepier new Florida driver’s license
Officials report the father rendered aid to his son and a woman in the parking lot called emergency services. First responders arrived on scene and rushed the child to Lakeland Regional Health, but he died around 7:30 p.m. He would have turned 4 in four days.
“We know that they worked tirelessly to save this child’s life, but it just wasn’t meant to be,” Sheriff Judd said. Officials believe this was an accidental shooting, but the sheriff mentioned, “any information that the chief or I give you this evening is certainly subject to update or modification.”
Florida has statutes allowing officials to charge the father with a third degree felony involving negligence, according to Sheriff Judd. Authorities need to wait seven days before sending the required information to the State Attorney’s Office. Because the information is being released so early, Judd says he is unprepared to assign culpability.
Sheriff Judd said early investigation information points to a tragic accident, so they “don’t have energy” to pursue criminal charges.
Read more Moore, Peña vie for District 3 seat on Orange County School Board