A 2-year-old boy has died after Chicago police say he accidentally shot himself in the face with a firearm on Monday afternoon. The tragedy marks at least the fifth time this year that a child in the city has either shot themselves or been unintentionally shot and killed by another child.
Monday’s shooting happened around 1 p.m. in the 300 block of East 87th Street in Chatham. Without providing many details, CPD said a 2-year-old boy who sustained an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face and later died. Police detained a “person of interest” at the scene.
In at least four other cases this year, prosecutors have charged adults whose firearms were allegedly used in the accidental, fatal shootings of children.
Just two weeks ago, prosecutors charged 29-year-old Danya Bell after her 5-year-old brother allegedly shot himself to death with her gun. Officials said Bell left her loaded firearm in her purse, tucked under toys in a child’s bedroom, while she stepped into the shower.
Moments later, 5-year-old Demeir Douglas found the weapon and fatally shot himself in the head. He died at Comer Children’s Hospital.
A Cook County judge denied prosecutors’ request to keep Bell detained and ordered her released.
In March, prosecutors charged 25-year-old Kemonte Rice after his 13-year-old nephew, Tawon Tribble Jr., accidentally killed himself while handling Rice’s gun.
At the time, Rice was on electronic monitoring for a pending sexual assault and firearms case.
Prosecutors said Rice told the boy to unload the gun and clean the bullets. When the weapon discharged, Rice allegedly fled the home while still wearing his ankle monitor, later hiding the gun under a mattress at his mother’s house. A judge ordered him detained.
That same month, prosecutors charged 32-year-old Derrick Taylor after his 5-year-old son allegedly found a 9-millimeter handgun that Taylor had stashed behind a television.
The boy fired the weapon, killing his 8-year-old brother, Josiah Hooker, inside their South Shore home, prosecutors said. Josiah was also taken to Comer, where he was pronounced dead.
And in February, prosecutors accused 19-year-old Tyler Wright of inviting children to his house while he was on electronic monitoring for a pending gun case. They said Wright gave the kids cannabis before the group began playing with firearms.
A 14-year-old boy allegedly pulled one of the triggers, killing 12-year-old Dalilah Batey. Both Wright and the teenager are facing charges.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the child’s passing.
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