POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 3-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself outside a Burger King in Bartow, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said the child’s father had parked after experiencing a problem paying for food at the drive-thru.
According to investigators, the father removed a gun from his waistband and placed it inside the vehicle while trying to resolve the payment issue.
The sheriff’s office said investigators believe the child picked up the gun and accidentally shot himself in the face.
The boy was taken to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was pronounced dead. The sheriff’s office said he was four days away from his fourth birthday.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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