Courtesy: Polk County Sheriff's Office
BARTOW, Fla. - A 3-year-old boy died Thursday evening after shooting himself in the face with a handgun inside a vehicle at a Burger King in Bartow, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Bartow Burger King shooting
What we know:
According to Sheriff Grady Judd, a family that moved from Connecticut four months ago was attempting to buy dinner at a drive-thru when their credit card declined. Deputies said the father grew distracted while searching for another way to pay.
PCSO said as he bent over to check his card, he removed a Glock handgun from his waistband and placed it on the vehicle seat.
The 3-year-old child, who was playing in the backseat, grabbed the firearm and pulled the trigger, according to deputies.
Officials said the father heard a loud pop before frantically running around the vehicle, while a bystander called 911. First responders transported the child to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead at 7:30 p.m.
Deputies said the child was to turn four years old in four days.
Florida Legal Process
What we don't know:
Detectives are transferring the investigative information to the State Attorney's Office to evaluate potential charges, though Sheriff Judd noted there is currently no energy for suggesting criminal prosecution.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from official statements released the Polk County Sheriff's Office.