HOUSTON – A 2-year-old child is dead after an accidental shooting Sunday afternoon in Acres Home, Houston police said.
The shooting was reported at 12:55 p.m. in the 8400 block of Knox Street.
Police said the boy, identified as Christopher Williams, found an unsecured 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol on the living room's couch. Police said Williams accidentally shot himself in the head.
Williams was taken to Texas Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police.
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The toddler's father was also checked out by medics after he had a hard time breathing when he learned his son died, officials said.
Relatives and family members told KPRC2 that Williams was his father's heart, which is now broken.
No charges have been filed.
Houston police are urging people to lock up their guns and keep them out of children's reach.
"You need to secure all weapons. Whether a trigger guard or safe to keep them secured so nothing like this happens in the future," HPD Capt. David Angelo said. "This is a tragic, tragic incident when a 2-year-old lost his life."