A 2-year-old boy was fatally shot outside a residence in Central Florida on July 12 after his 4-year-old cousin found a gun inside a vehicle and discharged it, authorities said.
The shooting occurred shortly before 4 p.m. on the 2600 block of Scrapbook Street in Kissimmee, Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon said during a July 13 press conference.
Deputies responding to the scene located the toddler—later identified as Brayden Tennyson—suffering from a gunshot wound. Authorities did not disclose where the boy was injured. He was transported to Orlando Health Children’s Arnold Palmer Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, just two days before his third birthday.
A spokesperson for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office told NTD via email on Wednesday that the family had traveled from Louisville, Georgia, to the area to stay at a local Airbnb, which is situated just a few miles from Walt Disney World.
Authorities said the 2-year-old was left inside the car after the family arrived at the home. According to the statement, the 4-year-old entered the vehicle moments later, where he discovered an unsecured, unholstered handgun belonging to Brayden's mother, and fired it, striking his cousin.
"Family members were outside of the car and had not yet entered the home, when they heard a gunshot coming from inside the vehicle," the spokesperson added.
The sheriff's homicide unit subsequently responded to the scene, and the medical examiner’s office and the Department of Children and Families were notified of the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing. Speaking to reporters, Blackmon said the case is still under review and officials are discussing whether any charges will be filed in connection with the fatal shooting.
"We're just in the beginning of the investigation," he said. "We actually have a meeting today with the state attorney to discuss the case as well, so there's further discussion there."
Blackmon reiterated that the firearm was not properly secured and urged the public to use locks on guns and to take proper precautions when storing them.
"I would think if it's in a holster, maybe make it harder for the child to manipulate as well. But it's literally laying out by itself," Blackmon said. "It's easy to grab, and you pull the trigger, and you can't recall that. It's not a video game. You can't hit reset and start over. Once you pull that trigger, that projectile is going somewhere. And this one hit hit a two-year-old and killed [him]."