The Armed Citizen

Boy dies from accidental shooting

By Megan Gray  The Denton Record Chronicle

A 5-year-old boy was pronounced dead at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas Monday after allegedly being shot in the head at his Denton home Saturday morning by a friend.

Officer Orlando Hinojosa, spokesman for the Denton Police Department, said it was with “a heavy heart” that he had to announce the little boy’s death to the media Monday afternoon.

He said the boy, whose name is not being released at this time, was pronounced dead at 12:05 p.m.

The reported incident took place inside the boy’s home after 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the 2700 block of Stockton Street.

Police said the 5-year-old and his 8-year-old friend were in a bedroom alone when the 8-year-old found a .22-caliber rifle.

The 8-year-old boy then allegedly pointed the rifle at his younger friend and shot him in the head, according to a news release issued by the department.

Officials are unsure where the loaded gun was found, but ruled out the parents’ bedroom.

“The parents were at work at the time of the accident,” Hinojosa said.

The 5-year-old’s grandparents, along with a teenage uncle, were home when the shooting occurred, police said.

The 5-year-old was taken from Denton Regional Medical Center to Children’s Medical Center Dallas.

The investigation is still ongoing and no charges are being filed at this time, but that could change pending further investigation, Hinojosa said Monday.