A quiet neighborhood on Calvary Drive on the Westside was shaken by tragedy Sunday evening and into Monday afternoon when a 2-year-old boy died in what the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) believes is an accidental shooting.
“My condolences go up to the family because it hurts anytime someone loses a child,” a neighbor shared, reflecting the community’s sorrow.
JSO believes it was likely an accident.
“It appears the child found the gun and accidentally shot himself. We are very early in the investigation and many facts are unknown. Both parents have been transported to the Police Memorial Building and are being interviewed,” JSO said in a release. “JSO is also working with the Medical Examiner’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office to help piece together what happened.”
It’s unclear if the parents will face any charges.
“This is one of those cases that will take time for the State Attorney’s Office to sort through,” said Jacksonville attorney Gene Nichols, who is not affiliated with the case.
On Monday morning, Nichols explained what usually happens in situations like this. He stressed the importance of counseling for both parents and noted that they should each have separate legal representation.
“In many of these cases, there can be a blame game,” Nichols said. “If one parent’s gun was involved and the other parent had no idea about it, statements made during the investigation could hurt one parent more than the other. It’s a tough situation.”
Decades-long JSO deputy Tom Hackney weighed in on the importance of securing firearms, emphasizing the availability of free gun locks.
“It can happen to anyone. You might think it could never happen in your life or to your child, but accidents like this occur across the country, affecting kids of all ages,” Hackney said.
He pointed to JSO as a resource for getting gun locks.
News4JAX went to Substation 3 on the southside and walked inside and were given a free gun lock with a key.
For now, the neighborhood is left to grapple with this heartbreaking loss as investigators continue to search for answers.
“It’s a pain that never goes away,” the neighbor said.
We followed up Monday with JSO about the parents interview and were sent this statement:
“This continues to be an active investigation. We continue to work with our partners at the Medical Examiner’s Office along with the State Attorney’s Office as we work through the circumstances that led to this tragedy.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500, by email at jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org, or through CrimeStoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
