5-year-old dies after accidentally shooting himself

SANTAQUIN, Utah – A 5-year-old boy died Thursday after accidentally shooting himself in his Santaquin home, police said.

Santaquin police said emergency responders attempted life-saving measures after arriving at the boy's home, but the boy later died at the scene.

The child was found wounded with a 9mm pistol in the back bedroom. Officials said the parents were in another room when the shot was fired.

The unidentified boy managed to grab the gun inside the home in the Santaquin Canyon Road area before accidentally firing a shot.

“At this time we are not filing any charges and are considering this a tragic incident,” said Det. Tipler.

How the child was able to access the data that had already been loaded is still under investigation.

“If you have a gun lock, it is best to always keep the gun unloaded, keep ammunition away from the gun and keep it in a safe,” said Det. Tipler.

Det. Tipler says the family has received a lot of support, including from the church community and neighbors.

They ask people in the community to respect the family's privacy and give them time to grieve following this incident.

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