Georgia boy, 2, killed after boy, 4, shot unsecured gun, deputies say

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A 2-year-old boy from Georgia has died after being shot by a young family member with an unsecured gun, deputies say. 

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The boy was visiting Central Florida on vacation when another boy, 4, got ahold of an unsecured gun and shot the two-year-old. 

Now, authorities are reiterating the importance of keeping firearms safely secured. 

Tragedy strikes a family vacation

What we know:

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting at a Kissimmee apartment complex on Scrapbook Street around 4 p.m., July 12 – finding a 2-year-old boy shot. 

The sheriff’s office’s homicide unit discovered the gun was found and fired from inside the car, hitting the boy. The family had been visiting from Georgia. 

He was transported to a nearby hospital for his injuries, where he later died. 

Sheriff pleads for responsible gun ownership

This incident comes months after Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon publicized a free gun lock giveaway. 

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Though acknowledging the family is from out of town, Blackmon once again offered up free gun locks, saying they’re so easy to put on. 

“That would stop that problem from happening,” he said. “… It’s literally laying out by itself, so it’s easy to grab. … Once you pull that trigger, that projectile is going somewhere. And this one hit a two-year-old and killed him.”  

Watch: Full press conference

What’s next:

This incident remains under investigation. No charges have been made at this time. 

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