Toddler Shot By Sister, Dies

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A 2-year-old Cache County boy died late Friday, hours after his sister shot him.

Authorities said the shooting happened about 6:40 p.m. at a home near 3600 West and 2200 South, in an unincorporated part of the county. The boy’s 3-year-old sister shot him with a .22-caliber rifle that had been left in the living room, the sheriff’s office said.

Cache County sheriff’s Lt. Mike Peterson said the gun had been used earlier in the day by the children’s father, who set it down after returning home. The firearm was unloaded but did have live rounds in the magazine, he said.

"We believe the 3-year-old had to manipulate the action enough to chamber a live round," Peterson said in a news release.

The boy underwent initial surgery at Logan Regional Hospital before being flown to Primary Children’s Hospital, where he died late Friday.

Investigators believe the shooting was accidental but will document the facts and refer the case to the Cache County Attorney’s Office for a review, Peterson said.

He said the names of the people involved are being withheld because of the ages of the children and the fact that the case is under investigation.

"This is a stark reminder of the importance of keeping all kinds of weapons out of the reach of children," the release said.

Jocelyn Strauss, regional manager for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said about one-third of children in the United States live in households with guns and more than 2 million of them are in homes with unsecured guns.

"As an organization, we feel the need to start an honest conversation about what responsible gun ownership means and how we should develop technology and laws that make safe storage the norm," said Strauss, who lives in Tucson, Ariz.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57838033-78/amp-county-cache-ward.html.csp

Edited April 26, 2014 by Porterhouse

[spookyturtle 9,466]

If it had live rounds in the magazine, it wasn't unloaded. A needless tragedy due to the carelessness of the father.