SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded in an unincorporated Sacramento suburb when a 10-year-old boy was shot and killed by another child with his father’s gun, according to authorities.
The heartbreaking event took place on a Saturday afternoon in Foothill Farms, sparking a response from Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies. They discovered the 10-year-old victim in a parking lot, bleeding from the head and neck. Despite efforts to save him, he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The victim, Keith Frierson, had left his apartment to ride his bicycle shortly before the shooting, a relative told KCRA-TV. The tragic incident unfolded when another 10-year-old boy found a loaded gun in his father’s truck while getting cigarettes for him. He then proceeded to shoot the victim once before fleeing into a nearby apartment, the Sheriff’s Office stated.
As law enforcement arrived at the scene, they ordered the occupants of the building to come out. The 10-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder, while his father was also taken into custody on various charges, including child endangerment and being an accessory to a crime after the fact.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the father was an ex-felon legally prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. Furthermore, the gun in question had been reported stolen in 2017. The man remained in jail with bail set at $500,000, and it was not immediately clear whether he had legal representation.
The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible gun ownership and the devastating consequences that can arise from inadequate firearm safety.