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A 3-year-old child died from a gunshot wound Saturday afternoon at an Independence home.
Police officers answering a 911 call responded about 3:30 p.m. to the 11500 block of East 20th Street. The child was dead when they arrived.
Police Capt. Ed Turner declined to say whether the shooting was accidental. He said family members were cooperating with the investigation, which was continuing Saturday evening.
No one had been arrested, Turner said.
“It’s a really bad situation when a child dies,” he added. “The family is very upset.”
Jeannel Anderson, who lives in the area, said she attended William Chrisman High School in Independence with the child’s mother. Though she has not spoken with the mother for several months, Anderson said she has been inside the family’s home and has seen guns being handled there.
“They have brought guns out and showed me,” said Anderson, who added that the safeties appeared to be on.
According to KCTV-5, The Star’s reporting partner, neighbors sitting on their porch heard one gunshot that sounded like fireworks. Then they heard a scream and saw a woman come out of the home saying, “My son has been shot.”
Neighbors said that the young couple who lives in the home had two sons, the 3-year-old and another who is about 2.
The parents married in 2008 in Independence, according to court records. In the last week, the father turned 32 and the mother 25.
Police used Saturday’s incident to remind gun owners to remain vigilant about firearms safety.
“I would advise everyone who does have a weapon to keep it secure and locked up,” Turner said.
