An 8-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself Wednesday night at a Lakes of the Four Seasons residence, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s office.
Around 7:30 p.m., officers responded the call of an 8-year-old child who had accidentally shot himself, Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. wrote in an email. Police said that the boy gained access to a handgun while he was home alone.
The case is currently under investigation and being reviewed by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, police said.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones of this child,” Martinez said.
The incident occurred exactly a month after a Porter County toddler died after accessing a firearm in a home.
On July 17, 2-year-old Wyatt Luczak died at a Chicago hospital after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his parents’ home in Pleasant Township.
Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann released a statement Thursday regarding the decision not to charge anyone in connection to the shooting.
“Our office has had a chance to review all of the investigative reports prepared by the Porter County Sheriff’s Department into the death of the two year old child who suffered a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound in Pleasant Township,” the statement read.
“After considering all of the facts and circumstances including the corroborating statement of an eyewitness neighbor, we have determined that no criminal charges will be filed. Notwithstanding this horrible tragedy, to sustain a conviction we would by law be required to prove one or both of the parents committed a ‘reckless’ act as defined by Indiana law as opposed to one that would amount to or be considered as mere negligence. In this case we do not believe we would be able to convince a jury that a reckless act was in fact committed. This decision is not meant to diminish in any way the crucial importance of firearm safety especially when there are children in and around where a firearm may be located.”
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
