Editor's note: This article has been updated to include information from Cmdr. David Woolery.
A Sedalia child died over the weekend after he accidentally shot himself.
According to a Sedalia Police Department news release, around 11:06 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to the 100 block of East Boonville Road for a report that a juvenile had been shot. Upon arrival, officers were advised the child’s father had taken the child to Bothwell Regional Health Center by personal vehicle.
The release states the child’s father and mother told officers the child had obtained a loaded handgun inside the residence and accidentally shot himself. The child was alive when he arrived at Bothwell, but despite lifesaving efforts, the child died. SPD identified the child as 4-year-old Andre Walker, of the residence.
There were two other children in the home when the incident occurred, but no one else was injured. SPD Cmdr. David Woolery told the Democrat that several people were at the residence when the incident happened.
The case is under investigation by the SPD Criminal Investigations Bureau, however, no foul play is suspected, according to the release.
“(Detective Jill Reed) had responded to the scene right after it happened with the assistance of patrol, they worked the incident,” Woolery said Monday night. “They did a very good job with it. They’re just wrapping it up.”
Woolery told the Democrat that investigators have a “pretty clear picture of what happened” but the investigation remains ongoing.
Woolery called the incident a “horrible deal.” He said families that keep firearms in their homes need to be “vigilent” when it comes to firearm safety. He said at a minimum, weapons should be put out of reach so children can’t get to them if they can’t be locked immediately, but he said “absolutely, weapons should be locked away and secured.”
“I think it’s wise if you have firearms in the house to have a conversation with your kids about them and the dangers of them. Kids are natually curious about firearms,” Woolery added. “Speaking from experience with my son, we’ve had several of these conversations and he understands. If he ever wants to see one then together I unload it if it was loaded, we would check the barrel and make sure it is clear, we go through the process together. It’s important to have the conversation and training them, teaching them about the dangers that (weapons) represent.”