A two-year-old child died after being accidentally shot in the head inside a home in San Antonio, Texas.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner announced the tragic death of the toddler, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head at a residence on the city’s West Side. According to the Medical Examiner’s office, the child, identified as Romell Antonio Richardson, passed away at 8:51 a.m. on Thursday, April 27.
The incident occurred near South Ellison and Marbach Road. San Antonio police are investigating the case.
Police reported that the child’s father unintentionally left a loaded firearm on top of the TV, and when his son reached up to get water, it fell to the floor and discharged, striking the child in the head.
The child’s father and grandmother rushed the injured toddler to Westover Hills Hospital. Police were then called to the hospital, and the child was transferred to University Hospital in critical condition.
Responding officers from the San Antonio Police Department began their investigation shortly after the family arrived at the hospital around 3:15 a.m. on Thursday. Along with the injured two-year-old, there was another three-year-old present in the house at the time of the incident, who fortunately remained unharmed and is currently under the care of another relative.
The initial findings of the preliminary report classified the shooting as an accidental occurrence. However, the possibility of filing charges is pending and will depend on the outcome of the police inquiry.
While it is uncommon for a gun to discharge after being dropped, such incidents do happen.